By "Boreas"
A look at the pre-war newspaper business in 1939, and its bias. Many examples are given of misinformation and deliberate lying by newspapers going back to the 19th Century. How wars are incited and bad feeling generated between nations.
The monopoly power of the press is shown by the amazing number of titles owned by Lord Northcliffe for example, and also the influence of the great advertising agencies who accounted for half the revenue of most newspapers. Ernest Bevin , editor of the Daily Herald is quoted as saying that Lord Rothmere withdrew his support for Oswald Mosley's BUF. due to the threat of withdrawal of the advertising accounts and the resultant income they generated.
It is also pointed out that many supposedly right wing papers were staffed by left wing journalists and one example given was that of Arthur Koestler of the News Chronicle who was so blatant in his lies about the Spanish Civil War that he finished up in on of Franco's gaols.