Propaganda, Bias, & Media

Propaganda

A message serving an agenda, one intended to influence or persuade with respect to an idea, action or emotion

The targeted use of information to achieve objectives

A planned process of persuasion

Note: the fact that something persuades is not sufficient to qualify it as propaganda

Propaganda serves as an affirmative corollary to censorship

A message does not have to be untrue to qualify as propaganda

Propaganda is not necessarily a pejorative term

Types:

Political

Governmental

Non-governmental

Social

Health and safety

Education

Values

Commercial

Ads

PR campaigns

Methods

Overt:

- Propagandistic character evident 

Covert:

-Propagandistic character disguised 

Media

Common media for transmitting propaganda messages include:

news reports

government reports

books

leaflets

movies

radio

television

posters

Bias

Bent or tendency

An inclination of temperament or outlook; especially : a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment: PREJUDICE

An instance of such prejudice

Propaganda vs. Bias

Bias deals with the values or viewpoint that are inherent in and shape a message

Virtually all messages are biased

Propaganda is a message that not simply has a viewpoint (bias) but it tries to sway its audience to that viewpoint

Whether or not a biased message is also propaganda depends upon the use to which it is put

Intended to Persuade vs. Inform