Operation Mockingbird

Operation Mockingbird was a secret program of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that began in the early 1950s and attempted to influence media for propaganda purposes. The program placed CIA operatives in major American news organizations and media outlets, with the aim of shaping global public opinion and promoting the interests of the United States during the Cold War. The operation was named after the mockingbird, a bird known for its mimicry, symbolizing the CIA's attempt to mimic and influence media narratives. The Hebrew translation for "Operation Mockingbird" is מבצע הציפור העוקצנית. In French, it is known as Opération Moqueur, and in German, it is referred to as Operation Spottdrossel. Key contextual information includes the program's inception during the Cold War era, its role in shaping media narratives to counter Soviet influence, and its eventual exposure in the 1970s, leading to significant reforms in intelligence oversight and media ethics.

Wikipedia Information

Alleged program of the CIA

Operation Mockingbird is an alleged large-scale program of the United States Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) that began in the early years of the Cold War and attempted to manipulate domestic American news media organizations for propaganda purposes. According to author Deborah Davis, Operation Mockingbird recruited leading American journalists into a propaganda network and influenced the operations of front groups. CIA support of front groups was exposed when an April 1967 Ramparts article reported that the National Student Association (NSA) received funding from the CIA. In 1975, Church Committee Congressional investigations revealed Agency connections with journalists and civic groups.

Last modified: 2025-08-03T08:38:48ZView full article on Wikipedia