Transcript What is propaganda?

What is propaganda?
1 : the spreading of ideas,
information, or rumor for the
purpose of helping or injuring an
institution, a cause, or a person
2 : ideas, facts, or allegations
spread deliberately to further
one's cause or to damage an
opposing cause
Propaganda
•Techniques used to influence opinions,
emotions, attitudes or behavior.
•The purpose is to benefit the sponsor.
•It appeals to the emotions not the intellect.
•It is not negative or positive.
•The purpose is to persuade.
Characteristics of Propaganda
• In advertising the purpose is to claim
“superiority” in order to sell product.
• Weasel Words - modifiers that look substantial
but are meaningless.
• Weasel Words: tackles, comforts, refreshes,
fights, helps, virtually…
• Makes audience believe in something or want to
do something.
Bandwagon
• persuasive technique that invites you to join the
crowd.
• Everybody’s doing it!
• Often uses weasel words
Testimonial
• Statement endorsing an idea/product by a prominent
person.
• Product can be inside or outside particular field.
• Musical artists,
• Sports giants,
• Actors/actresses
Snob Appeal
• Aims to flatter
• Makes assumption/ insinuation that this product/idea is
better than others…
• Thus, those that use it are too.
• “Avant Garde” ahead of the times.
The Ultimate
driving machine
Plain Folks
• Opposite of Snob Appeal
• Identifies product/idea with a locality or country
• Practical product for ordinary people.
Like a good neighbor…
Evidence Claims
• Facts and Figures –
statistics to prove superiority.
• Magic Ingredients –
suggests some miraculous
discovery makes product
exceptionally effective.
• Hidden Fears –
suggests that user is safe from
some danger.
Identify the bias:
In Bernard Goldberg’s book BIAS, he
accuses CBS News of bias in reporting.
Critical thinking questions
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Who created/paid for the message?
For what purpose was it made?
Who is the ‘target audience’?
What techniques are used to attract my
attention & increase believability ?
Who or what might be omitted and why?
What do they want me to think or do?
How do I know what it means?
Where might I go to get more information?
Buyer Beware
• Be a conscientious consumer
• Know what devices are trying to influence
you
• Then…
• Make an informed decision
Homework
• Find and example of propoganda
• Find and example of bias