Of Propaganda and the Truth

[Solly Mack]

Of Propaganda and the Truth


Propaganda

information that is spread for the purpose of promoting some cause


Propaganda

2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person
3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect



Propaganda has traditionally been divided into three main categories: white, grey and black.


1 - White propaganda: comes from an acknowledged source and often is aimed at sympathetic audiences


Examples:

"The White House announced today that they have proof of Iran aiding the insurgents in Iraq"


"Birth records show Barack Obama's middle name is Hussein, from the Chicago Sun-Times"



2 - Grey propaganda: is anonymous


Examples:

"Some say" (the often used intro on Fox News to announce some whopper)


"A White House source that wishes to remain anonymous claims Bush enjoys calling people by nicknames rather than their own names"



3 - Black propaganda: pretends to be from a source it is not and is usually aimed at an enemy audience.

Examples:

"On Fox News tonight, a former campaign worker for Bill Clinton tells all about Hillary's violent temper"

"Iraqi radio announced today that the Iraqi government said that Americans need to stay the course and not give up on the Iraqis"






The 7 main techniques identified by the US Institute for Propaganda Analysis in 1938


1. Bandwagon - is a device to make us follow the crowd, to accept the propagandist's program en masse. Here his theme is: "Everybody's doing it." His techniques range from those of medicine show to dramatic spectacle.



2. Name Calling - is a device to make us form a judgment without examining the evidence on which it should be based. Here the propagandist appeals to our hate and fear.



3. Glittering Generalities - is a device by which the propagandist identifies his program with virtue by use of "virtue words." Here he appeals to our emotions of love, generosity, and brotherhood.



4. Transfer - is a device by which the propagandist carries over the authority, sanction, and prestige of something we respect and revere to something he would have us accept.



5. Testimonial - is a device to make us accept anything from a patent medicine or a cigarette to a program of national policy.



6. Plain Folks - is a device used by politicians, labor leaders, business men, and even by ministers and educators to win our confidence by appearing to be people like ourselves—"just plain folks among the neighbors."



7. Card Stacking - is a device in which the propagandist employs all the arts of deception to win our support for himself, his group, nation, race, policy, practice, belief, or ideal. He stacks the cards against the truth. He uses under-emphasis and over-emphasis to dodge issues and evade facts.


additional Propaganda Techniques

Assertion: is an enthusiastic or energetic statement presented as a fact, although it is not necessarily true

Lesser of Two Evils: technique tries to convince us of an idea or proposal by presenting it as the least offensive option.

Pinpointing the enemy: an attempt to simplify a complex situation by presenting one specific group or person as the enemy.

Simplification (Stereotyping): is extremely similar to pinpointing the enemy, in that it often reduces a complex situation to a clear-cut choice involving good and evil.


Nothing in the definition of propaganda defines all propaganda as lies or non-factual. Propaganda can be true; it can be factual. It is intent and motive - the goal, of mass communicating information, either true or false, that makes it propaganda.

[Solly Mack]

1. kick for the pokemon