What is propaganda?

Propaganda: The systematic dissemination of information, especially in a biased or misleading way, in order to promote a particular cause or point of view, often a political agenda. -Oxford English Dictionary

It utilizes tools of advertising, public relations, and psychology to manipulate an audience.

Propaganda often comes from sources we feel like we should trust, like the government, large organizations, or media personalities. This can make identifying and understanding propaganda confusing, especially when it contains absolute falsehoods. 

Propaganda characteristics:

-Exhibits bias and oversimplifies an issue to achieve a specific end

-Attacks a perceived opponent

-Omits information

-Uses slogans and symbols (artistic, musical, religious, etc.) to tap into emotions

Propaganda often uses techniques like:

Appeals to fear and prejudice: Swaying public opinion against a perceived threat.

Name-calling: Linking a negative label to a person, group, or idea. Examples include calling someone an “extremist” or a “radical.” 

Glittering generalities: Using words that have a powerful positive connotation but don’t have a concrete meaning. Such words may include “freedom,” “justice,” “values,” or “patriot.” 

Bandwagon: Using social pressure to shape opinions by pushing the idea that “most people agree” or “everyone is doing it.” 

Plain folks: Attempting to connect to and convince an audience that an idea or person is of the “common man.” 

Transfer: Attempting to associate a person or idea with something positive or negative. This could include a public official standing near a national symbol, or a celebrity endorsement of a politician.

Card-stacking: Highlighting the positive information while downplaying or ignoring the negative.

Obfuscation: Using vague language or complex jargon to confuse the audience and create uncertainty. 

Straw man: Creating a distorted view of an opposing viewpoint to distract from the real debate. 

Be a conscious consumer. Learn to recognize the characteristics of propaganda:

-Lies

-Bias

-Oversimplification

-Omission

-Attacks

-Use of symbols to evoke emotion

Sources: 

Britannica: “Propaganda,” britannica.com.

Nabb Research Center Online Exhibits: “Fear,” libapps.salisbury.edu.

Oxford English Dictionary: “Propaganda,” oed.com.

Texas A&M University System Open Digital Publishing: “Propaganda techniques in media handout,” odp.library.tamu.edu.

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum: “State of deception: The power of Nazi propaganda,” ushmm.org.