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News :: Miscellaneous |
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Censoring the "Encylopedia of Censorship"--A case of corporate control |
Current rating: 0 |
by Daniesha Laquandria
(No verified email address) |
20 May 2001
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An example of how and what a corporate publishing house censors. |
A CASE OF CENSORSHIP
I am sending this letter out to a number of listservs, discussion lists, mailing lists, and bulletin boards. The message deals with the issues of censorship and corporate manipulation of the means of communication.
I think the situation I am describing has wide implications for students, teachers, and professors worried about censorship. The matter should also be of grave concern to journalists, activists, historians, and authors concerned with the issue of freedom of expression.
I was contracted a few years ago to write some articles for multi-volume work entitled \"Censorship: A World Encyclopedia.\" [If you know anyone who has been hired to produce articles for this work, please forward this to them. I would be very eager to network with others on the project to see how they view the problem]
The articles I produced were accepted by one of the lead editors, who praised them, saying they were excellently written.
That was about three years ago. Recently I discovered that the works I had written on the subject of censorship in foreign countries HAD BEEN CENSORED. These articles had not been slightly altered for reasons of style or readability. They had been radically changed, with entire passages deleted. Lengthy passages I had not written were inserted.
There seems something strange about a publishing house soliciting articles for an Encyclopedia (which is supposedly dedicated to the struggle against censorship) then turning around and censoring the very articles it has solicited.
Specific patterns could be detected in the pattern of censorship. For example, entire paragraphs which spoke of the concept of worker-run, or journalist-controlled newspapers were stricken. References to the excessive power of the corporate media to shape and manipulate the news were stricken. Numerous references to the rights of labour to have its voice heard were deleted. Specific instances of democratically run media outlets, which served the function of counteracting corporate censorship, were also deleted. These stricken passages were all well within the topic parameters of the articles, and I was given no indication that any of these references were inappropriate by the lead editor.
There were many other instances of similar types of deletions which were driven by ideology. Such deletions indicated a desire to censor unpleasant facts, which run contrary to the generally received notion of what should be allowed in the corporate boardrooms. Outright censorship of my work has occurred, and it feels like a violation of my right to free expression.
It is possible that some adjustments can be made which could accommodate both sides, but at present, I have not received any favorable indication that that would be the case. What strikes me incredulous-- I can’t help repeating this-- is that my work, written about and in opposition to censorship, has BEEN CENSORED. The work was submitted years ago, and we have less than two weeks to re submit the proofs. We are \"advised\" not to do any rewrites (inspite of the fact that our work was entirely rewritten, without our knowledge; and inspite of the fact that these articles have been sitting in offices for years-- there was plenty of time to consult us). In the upcoming two weeks, it seems, we are simply expected to correct spelling errors.
I am posting this on as many sites devoted to censorship, freedom of expression, and media studies as possible. After all, what kind of academic freedom do we have if we our scholarly work is treated with such disdain behind our backs (while we are told to our face that we have done \"excellent work\")? What kind of education can our students expect to receive, and what kind of reference materials can they rely upon, if the very books which are supposed to treat the subject of free expression, are systematically censored?
I am asking for people to offer advice, tell me they think what my rights are, or share with me similar experiences. Each article written was \"a work for hire,\" which may mean something different under British law than it does in the US. (The contracting publishing house is Fitzroy Dearborn, based in London.)
I would be grateful for any comments, reactions, or suggestions about this situation.
Sincerely,
Daniesha L. |
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Contact Address |
by Daniesha Laquandria
danieshalaquand (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
20 May 2001
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Here is my address, if you wish to send me an email.
danieshalaquand (at) hotmail.com |
