What is is propaganda?

Answer 1

Propaganda is the manipulation of information to influence public opinion. It uses a number of different techniques, such as emphasizing bits of information that support a position and minimizing or excluding those that do not (this is often called "cherry picking"). There are many different kinds of Propaganda, but it is most commonly seen in politics; some would say it can also be seen in advertising, or even in religion. The word originally comes from religion-- it derives from the Latin word for 'spreading the faith.'

You can see propaganda techniques in action when a president or a prime minister spreads false or exaggerated information to frighten the public and get them to obey. Governments have often used it to remain in power, convincing the public there is an impending threat-- that may not really exist-- and only the current president or king or prime minister can keep everyone safe. This type of propaganda is especially common when a leader wants to gain public support for a war, or when there is a social problem and the government wants to blame one group of people for it.

A good example of propaganda occurred during the Nazi era, when Hitler was able to blame all of Germany's problems on the Jews, who only made up perhaps 5% of the population; he used media, public speeches, fake "medical" studies, and a parade of carefully chosen "experts" to advance his racist theories and make them sound logical to the average person. But it wasn't just the Nazis who used propaganda: there has also been propaganda in a number of countries, America among them-- it was used here to reinforce the need for slavery; other times propaganda has been used included keeping a particular group in a subordinate status (such as insisting that women were of inferior intelligence and did not need the right to vote or have a career); or keeping members of a particular religious faith obedient to religious doctrine by scaring them about the alleged dire consequences of disobeying.

Not every controversial idea is propaganda, however. It should be noted that in political communication, politicians will label as propaganda any ideas or beliefs they disagree with. A common complaint in any political campaign is that the other side's message is nothing more than propaganda. But on the other hand, the media are sometimes guilty of broadcasting or spreading propaganda, when they rely on only "government sources" or when they favor one side in a controversy and refuse to allow other perspectives to be heard, or when they do not ask tough questions of the people in power.

To sum up, propaganda refers to dishonest or biased or manipulated information used to unfairly influence public opinion. Throughout history, political leaders, as well as religious leaders and advocates for particular causes, have sometimes employed propaganda techniques to win public opinion to their side. Here is a link to some of the most common propaganda techniques and how to recognize them.

Answer 2

Propaganda is the manipulation of information to influence public opinion. It uses a number of different techniques, such as emphasizing bits of information that support a position and minimizing or excluding those that do not (this is often called "cherry picking"). There are many different kinds of propaganda, but it is most commonly seen in politics; some would say it can also be seen in advertising, or even in religion. The word originally comes from religion-- it derives from the Latin word for 'spreading the faith.'

You can see propaganda techniques in action when a president or a prime minister spreads false or exaggerated information to frighten the public and get them to obey. Governments have often used it to remain in power, convincing the public there is an impending threat-- that may not really exist-- and only the current president or king or prime minister can keep everyone safe. This type of propaganda is especially common when a leader wants to gain public support for a war, or when there is a social problem and the government wants to blame one group of people for it.

A good example of propaganda occurred during the Nazi era, when Hitler was able to blame all of Germany's problems on the Jews, who only made up perhaps 5% of the population; he used media, public speeches, fake "medical" studies, and a parade of carefully chosen "experts" to advance his racist theories and make them sound logical to the average person. But it wasn't just the Nazis who used propaganda: there has also been propaganda in a number of countries, America among them-- it was used here to reinforce the need for slavery; other times propaganda has been used included keeping a particular group in a subordinate status (such as insisting that women were of inferior intelligence and did not need the right to vote or have a career); or keeping members of a particular religious faith obedient to religious doctrine by scaring them about the alleged dire consequences of disobeying.

Not every controversial idea is propaganda, however. It should be noted that in political communication, politicians will label as propaganda any ideas or beliefs they disagree with. A common complaint in any political campaign is that the other side's message is nothing more than propaganda. But on the other hand, the media are sometimes guilty of broadcasting or spreading propaganda, when they rely on only "government sources" or when they favor one side in a controversy and refuse to allow other perspectives to be heard, or when they do not ask tough questions of the people in power.

To sum up, propaganda refers to dishonest or biased or manipulated information used to unfairly influence public opinion. Throughout history, political leaders, as well as religious leaders and advocates for particular causes, have sometimes employed propaganda techniques to win public opinion to their side. Here is a link to some of the most common propaganda techniques and how to recognize them.