Propaganda is the dissemination of information with the intention of manipulating public opinion. It was not always negative and originated from the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith. World War I and II brought about a change in the way people thought about propaganda due to smear campaigns. Propaganda is divided into three types: black, gray, and white. People should always look closely at the source of their information to determine if it falls within the definition of propaganda.
When information is disseminated with the intention of manipulating public opinion, it is usually referred to as propaganda. The term became particularly associated with politics, due to extensive government campaigns in the 20th century, but in reality it was not always negative. Examples familiar to most people include posters posted during World War I and World War II designed to garner public support, and product advertisements in print and on television. Both examples include the communication of information, both are meant to evoke a particular response, and both use misleading information to “sell” the viewer on the issue at hand.
The origins of propaganda lie in the Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, an organization founded by the Pope in 1622. The group was formed to spread Christianity to other nations, and initially the word was quite benign, suggesting simply the information distribution. The idea of using posters and newspapers to disseminate information on important issues came to be known by this term and up until the world wars many governments had a propaganda office and were quite open about what they were doing.
However, World War I and World War II brought about a change in the way people thought about how information was disseminated. Both sides launched smear campaigns designed to smear the enemy, and often the actions attributed to the enemy were patently false. The use of many logical fallacies to influence popular opinion began to spread and under Hitler it became an art form. After the Second World War, most governments had a “Ministry of Information” rather than a “Ministry of Propaganda” and the term began to acquire negative connotations.
When asked to view propaganda, most people think of a poster or advertising campaign that uses false information, oversimplifications, and flawed logic to make an emotional impact on the viewer. Many government campaigns rely heavily on ideals of patriotism, faith, and nation to suggest that people who disagree with the political issue at hand are unpatriotic or even seditious. Techniques that are often used include greenwashing, quoting out of context, disinformation, junk science, buzzwords, and astroturfing. Furthermore, the material usually contains logical errors such as an appeal to ridicule or an ad hominem attack.
As a general rule, propaganda is divided into three main types. Black uses patently false information that cannot be verified to manipulate the viewer into thinking in a particular way about a given issue. Gray implies the use of information that is difficult to attribute and may be considered objectionable. White propaganda is true and usually not meant to deceive. A number of techniques can be used to determine whether or not something falls within the definition of this term, but as a general rule, people should always look closely at the source of their information.
For example, someone may find themselves reading a study that claims that the effects of oil spills on marine life are greatly exaggerated. Given the large amount of information to the contrary, he might want to see who is providing that information. It is very likely in this example that the information is being provided by an oil company, often through an innocuous-looking front group. By following the money, he can determine the true source of the information, which could impact how he thinks.
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