Propaganda: [Abbrev. fr. L. de propaganda fide: cf. F. propagande. See {Propagate}.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
(a) A congregation of cardinals, established in 1622, charged with the management of missions.
(b) The college of the Propaganda, instituted by Urban VIII. (1623-1644) to educate priests for missions in all parts of the world.
2. Hence, any organization or plan for spreading a particular doctrine or a system of principles.
Throughout history, propaganda has been used in warfare to do exactly that; and the US has also practiced it extensively, but with its own twist, that of a democracy that has a free press and therefore has to disguise propaganda better.
Aren’t there enough channels of information available that we have ample opportunity to sort out facts?
No. The more information available, the more difficult it is to sort out. The more information available the more we tune out. We consume in bites. And propaganda becomes more credible and palatable if it uses truth, not lies.
The catch in the modern technological age is to use truths - but with omissions.
This article in the Asia Times look at how a government rallies citizens to it’s cause, particularily in war. What techniques are used to prop the agenda?
Money and two Canadas
I was unaware of the extent of dual advertising in Canada. For example; how Labatt’s markets it beer to french speaking Canadians is very different than the pitch to english Canadians. The dual advertising is routinely done by national and international companies.
Blurring the lines
Is it just me, or had advertising always been this intrusive? Look at this front page, and tell me, what is wrong with this picture?
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Hi, Bene D! A belated Happy Canada Day to you, the Official Canuck.
I went to the WND website, and the first thing I saw was the Michael Moore vs. Passion of the Christ.
Were you thinking of that or the animated “Breaking News” pictures next to nearly every headline?
Take care and keep in touch!
Good one Dan, but that wasn’t it.:^)
They have editorial ownership and discretion to put breaking news beside a story. The idea is to give you a sense of being in the know.
There was something else that jumped out at me that has become common.
Thanks for the well wishes, back at ya; you have a good July 4th and blog on!
Would it be the manner in which Special Offers supporting the premises of the news article above it are mentioned and arranged within the news categories?
“A free press for a free people” is their motto–but in order to get down to the “real skinny,” one has to fork out some bucks on the agenda-leaning material against Dems and leftist thought.
I don’t know how you could find anything wrong with such an unbiassed and objective organ as WND. Pure journalism at its finest!
Wasn’t about objectivity either…
Have we become so desensitized we don’t notice advertising gets the same attention as a news story? The ads are scattered into the headlines, looking just like the headlines.
I have a problem with that.
Yeah, it’s bad. The sad thing, though, is that we’re getting used to it. I wonder how long it will be before advertising gets as intrusive as in, say, the film “Minority Report”…and we don’t even care…
(Of course, WND is hardly any better than a religious tabloid, so I suppose it shouldn’t be a surprise to see it looking and feeling like one…)