Cameron Bandari
Aug 28, 2017 · 2 min read

Hey Shauna,

That first WaPo link you attached is actually a perfect example of Russell conjugation in the context of narrative fake news. Let’s deconstruct the headline: (1) “Anti-Assad-Rebels” is positive Russell conjugation for “al Qaeda/ISIS/al Nusra,” and (2) “a move sought by Moscow” is a narrative fake news technique meant to cast a negative light on the cessation of our support for al Qaeda/ISIS/Nusra in Syria. Notice that the clause “a move sought by Moscow” is actually preposterous in the context of this headline, as it serves no function other than to apply negative emotive conjugation.

This point may be elucidated with some examples. What if the headline were: “Trump seeks to end CIA program of assassinating ice cream truck drivers, a move sought by Moscow.” How about “Trump seeks to end CIA plan to blow up the moon and replace it with cheese, a move sought by Moscow.” In both cases, “a move sought by Moscow” is meaningless. Of course Moscow would want us to not blow up the moon or assassinate ice cream truck drivers. Similarly, Of course Moscow would want us to not support al Qaeda/ISIS/al Nusra in Syria; everyone should want us to not do so. The fact that The Washington Post is indicating, albeit implicitly via their choice of Russell Conjugation and other narrative fake news techniques, that they think it’s a bad thing that we are no longer supporting al Qaeda IS the problem here.

Naturally this same form of deconstruction can be applied to the entire content of the article.

What part of this undermines my thesis?

)

    Cameron Bandari

    Written by