Propaganda and the Internet

Citizenship and Geography

Grade 7

Spring 2008

Miss Thomas

Definition of Propaganda

Propaganda is the spread of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person.

The word propaganda refers to any technique that attempts to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior of a group in order to benefit the sponsor.

The purpose of propaganda is to

Persuade.

People often think of propaganda as something negative, as in a con or a lie. But propaganda really doesn't have anything to do with negative or positive.

It's a technique. The word propaganda refers to any technique

that attempts to influence the opinions, emotions, attitudes or behavior of a group in order to benefit the sponsor.

In a war, when you use propaganda to encourage your own side, this technique is often called reverse propaganda.

If propaganda is negative, then "reverse propaganda" must be positive, right? No. No matter what you call it, it's still propaganda, and its purpose is unchanged.

The purpose of propaganda is to persuade (in order to benefit the sponsor).

Types of Propaganda

Bandwagon Testimonial Plain Folks Repetition Emotional Words

BandwagonPersuading people to do

something by letting them know others are doing it.

Example: Everyone in Lemmingtown is behind Jim Duffie for Mayor. Shouldn't you be part of this winning team?

Testimonial

Using the words of a famous person to persuade you.

EXAMPLE: "Sam Slugger", a baseball Hall of Famer who led the pros in hitting for years, appears in a television ad supporting Mike Politico for U.S. Senate. Since Sam is well known and respected in his home state and nationally, he will likely gain Mr. Politico many votes just by his appearance with the candidate.

Transfer

Using the names or pictures of famous people, but not direct quotes

Example: The environmentalist group PEOPLE PROMOTING PLANTS, in its attempt to prevent a highway from destroying the natural habitat of thousands of plant species, produces a television ad with a "scientist" in a white lab coat explaining the dramatic consequences of altering the food chain by destroying this habitat.

Repetition

The Product name is repeated at least four times.

Example: In a commercial for a new product called Mr. Green Knees, “Mr. Green Knees” begins every sentence. “Mr. Green Knees is Easy!” “Mr. Green Knees is Cool!” “Mr. Green Knees is fun!” “Mr. Green Knees is Portable!”

Emotional Words

Using words that will make you feel strongly about someone or something.

Example: Ralph Lauren sells there perfume by showing a romantic love seen and just putting the word romance on the ad.

The Internet

The Internet is a vast computer network linking smaller computer networks worldwide

Information is transferred very quickly. In the past, if an individual needed a specific

piece of information, they would go to the library and end up researching for hours. Now you can turn on a computer and type in a search in a matter of minutes.

The world is now at your fingertips.

Resources

Donn.  (2007). Media, Politics, Advertising, Conflict.  Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://propaganda.mrdonn.org/

(2006). Propaganda.  Retrieved April 4, 2008, from http://www.propagandacritic.com/