Speaking for Frontline, correspondent Douglas Rushkoff warns us that the ultimate triumph of “the persuaders”—those ministries of data mining, focus grouping, ad-making, anxiety marketing, spin segmenting, and demograffiti—will be to brainwash us into believing that they multiply and educate our choices instead of pouncing on and pandering to our prejudices and vulnerabilities. See merchants of cool place products in your favorite sitcom. Be the first on your block to be “branded” deep inside your hippocampus. And learn that “the persuasion industry”—just like the CIA—has hired linguists, ethnographers, and brain researchers to identify and fiddle with our deepest desires and fears.

The Persuaders
Channel 13.
Tuesday, November 9, 9 to 10:30 P.M.

Related:

• Archive: “Television”
• Articles by John Leonard
• Table of Contents: Nov 15, 2004 issue of New York | Subscribe!