Thursday, October 23, 2014

Simulation of an emergency

This is a frequently used form of public narrative control. It is based on a simulation of an accident, explosion, fire, or some other extraordinary situation. Subsequently, media attention is devoted to the simulation. In the case of the "news" channels Polsat News, TVN24, and TVP Info it may result in devoting 100 per cent of the broadcast time to the simulation.

The aim of the simulated narrative is of course to replace the realistic narrative. The simulated narrative may be organized to contain elements present also in the natural narrative, which for some reason should be jammed or entirely hidden. The key narrative elements consist of the personal characteristics of persons,
places, actions, i.e. everything that determines the uniqueness of the story.

Participation of emergency services in crisis situations implies increased traffic within the emergency communication system. This enables inconspicuous transmission of information about a real crisis situation, unrelated to the simulated one and hidden from the outside world. Thus communication in a simulated emergency may serve the function of an encryption channel for the hidden real emergency.

This morning's situation in Poland fulfills the criteria of a simulated emergency.