Poynter.org: Tips for detecting political propaganda
Posted by Alisa Zykova on September 3, 2008 at 11:36 AM
Poynter.org says that journalists must be skeptical when it comes to politics and have the ability to detect political propaganda, especially in light of the current presidential elections in the US.
Guidelines for doing so have been taken from extracts of a pamphlet published more than 70 years ago by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis.
Guidelines for doing so have been taken from extracts of a pamphlet published more than 70 years ago by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis.
Political propaganda may have the following features:
-Name calling: diminishing an opponent by referring to an opponent as "most liberal" or "extremist" for example.
-Glittering generalities: "virtue words" that depict ideals that are impossible to be argued against, otherwise known as "motherhood and apple pie."
-The transfer: transferring an individual's or an institution's authority or status to another, e.g. Barack Obama summoning names such as Abraham Lincoln or JFK.
-The Testimonial: "endorsements" or having a celebrity "shed their blessings" on a candidate, e.g. Joe Lieberman supporting John McCain.
- Plain folks: supporters may insist that a candidate is a "man of the people" and may use text like "town," "village," "farm," "diner," "bar," "train," "folks," "coal mine" and "kitchen table" in the same context.
-Card stacking: a "full-court press of persuasion", similar to techniques uses to justify wars, i.e. supporters would back card stacking whereas those who oppose would say that "justifications fell like a house of cards."
-The Band Wagon: techniques reflecting an "everyone's on board" attitude, with words like "journey", "battle", "movement", "march" and "mandate for change" popping up in conversations.
Journalists must also be able to distinguish between "emotional" propaganda and "rational" propaganda.
"As responsible journalists, we must not succumb to these ourselves, and we must point them out to citizens so reason and critical thinking can help balance emotion and passion," wrote Poynter.org.
Source: Poynter.org
-Name calling: diminishing an opponent by referring to an opponent as "most liberal" or "extremist" for example.
-Glittering generalities: "virtue words" that depict ideals that are impossible to be argued against, otherwise known as "motherhood and apple pie."
-The transfer: transferring an individual's or an institution's authority or status to another, e.g. Barack Obama summoning names such as Abraham Lincoln or JFK.
-The Testimonial: "endorsements" or having a celebrity "shed their blessings" on a candidate, e.g. Joe Lieberman supporting John McCain.
- Plain folks: supporters may insist that a candidate is a "man of the people" and may use text like "town," "village," "farm," "diner," "bar," "train," "folks," "coal mine" and "kitchen table" in the same context.
-Card stacking: a "full-court press of persuasion", similar to techniques uses to justify wars, i.e. supporters would back card stacking whereas those who oppose would say that "justifications fell like a house of cards."
-The Band Wagon: techniques reflecting an "everyone's on board" attitude, with words like "journey", "battle", "movement", "march" and "mandate for change" popping up in conversations.
Journalists must also be able to distinguish between "emotional" propaganda and "rational" propaganda.
"As responsible journalists, we must not succumb to these ourselves, and we must point them out to citizens so reason and critical thinking can help balance emotion and passion," wrote Poynter.org.
Source: Poynter.org
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