Propaganda techniques

Propagandists use a variety of propaganda techniques to influence opinions and to avoid the truth. Often these techniques rely on some element of censorship or manipulation, either omitting significant information or distorting it.

Rhetorical Techniques

During the period between World Wars I and II, the now-defunct Institute for Propaganda Analysis (IPA) developed a list of common rhetorical techniques used for propaganda purposes. Their list included the following:

• doublespeak
• fear
• glittering generalities
• name-calling

Other Techniques / Terms

• ad hominem
• apologise
• astroturf
• bad science
• bait and switch
• big lie
• buzz
• buzzwords
• comic books
• concision
• controlling the message
• demonizing the opposition
• disinformation
• divide and conquer
• echo chamber
• front group
• greenwashing
• guerrilla marketing
• junk science
• misinformation
• photographic manipulation
• policy laundering
• politics of personal destruction
• Political Code Words
• product placement
• providing pictures
• Public Service Announcments
• push poll
• quoting out of context
• release of forged documents
• repetition
• straw man
• swiftboating
• using celebrities
• talking points
• vagueness
• video news releases
• viral marketing (word of mouth)

Recommended Books

• Anthony R. Pratkanis and Elliot Aronson, Age of Propaganda: The Everyday Use and Abuse of Persuasion, Owl Books, March 2001. ISBN 0805074031 ISBN 978-0805074031

SourceWatch Resources

• Propaganda
• Covert propaganda

External links

• The Center for Media and Democracy documents uses of propaganda and has numerous articles on how to identify propaganda and propagandists, e.g.,Anne Landman's article on Attack of the Living Front Groups, August 28, 2009.
• Institute for Propaganda Analysis offers analysis, with current and historical examples, of rhetorical tactics often used by propagandists, based on the framework developed in the 1930s by the IPA.
• Thinkquest's Wartime Propaganda
• Trudy Lieberman, "Answer the &$%#* Question!: Ever Wonder Why They Won't? They've Been Media-Trained. And the Public Is the Loser", Columbia Journalism Review, January/February 2004.
• Floyd McKay, "Propaganda: America's Psychological Warriors", The Seattle Times, February 19, 2006.