"Astroturfing: many of you are already savvy to this.But if you haven't heard the PR phrase "astroturf,"get to know it. It's all around you.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
"Astroturfing" is rampant, esp. online (blogs, Facebook, Twitter). It means a special interest pays $$ to disguise itself and write blogs..
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
...edit Wikipedia entries, have "letters to the editor" published or just post comments to online material to make you believe...
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
...that a disinterested, grassroots party is speaking. Astroturfing is designed to provide the credibility of a non-conflicted source...
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
...by masking the true source's financial interests in the subject.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
As one observer wrote of Astroturfing:
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
"Sometimes one individual operates over many personas to give the impression of widespread support for their client's agenda...
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
...astroturfing can alter public viewpoints and create enough doubt to inhibit action."
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
Hallmarks of astroturfing can include use of key words such as "crazy," "nutty" and "pseudo," intended to sway the public...
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
... from listening to the subject the $special interest$ wishes to disparage.
— Sharyl Attkisson (@SharylAttkisson) June 1, 2013
