Propaganda techniques in the media Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002 Whose voice guides your choice?

How do you decide who is the best candidate… Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

or which is the best toothpaste ? Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Looking for facts to back up your choice is an excellent idea, but find out who is presenting those facts. Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

Are they facts at all, or is the advertiser using propaganda techniques to persuade you? Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

What are Propaganda techniques? Propaganda is designed to persuade. Its purpose is to influence your opinions, emotions, attitudes, or behavior. It seeks to “guide your choice.”

Who uses Propaganda? Military Media Advertisers Politicians You and I

a TV commercial for dishwashing liquid, you are exposed to dozens of persuasive messages each day. All of these persuasive messages attempt to win you over to a particular idea or influence you to take a specific action. Have you ever stopped to think about how many persuasive messages you receive from the media? or a billboard promoting bicycle helmet safety, Whether it’s an ad in a magazine for jeans,

How far will we go to IMPROVE ourselves? An often-quoted motivational saying tells us that “The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.” Sometimes, though, we may go on anxious quests to chase an illusion of perfection. The desire to improve can be healthy if we’re eliminating bad habits, improving performance, or trying new things to broaden our experience.

What are some of the techniques used to persuade us? Bandwagon Testimonial Repetition Transfer Name-calling

Bandwagon Everybody is doing this. If you want to fit in, you need to “jump on the bandwagon” and do it too. The implication is that you must JOIN in to FIT in. Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

For example: If Taylor Swift drinks milk, then you need to drink it also.

Testimonial A famous person endorses an idea, a product, a candidate. If someone famous uses this product, believes this idea, or supports this candidate, so should we.

For example: If you choose Jenny Craig, you will be healthier and lose weight like Queen Latifah.

Repetition  A key word, phrase, or name is repeated to impress it on the reader’s mind.  A logo may also be repeated. Atlas and only Atlas flies you anywhere at low Atlas fares. Remember Atlas is at your service.

Transfer Symbols, quotes, or images of famous people are used to convey a message. The message may not necessarily be associated with them.

For example: Joe uses symbols of America to tie his restaurant to American values for Independence Day. Celebrate the American Way this 4 th of July- Eat at Joe’s Joe’s Barbeque Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

 The soft, cozy fabrics of Hermes make me feel good. Karlie Kloss in Hermes Spring 2010

Name-calling Words that have a negative connotation are used to create an unfavorable impression of someone or something. If that word or feeling goes along with that person or idea, the implication is that we shouldn’t be interested in it.

For example: Do we want a mayor who will leave us in debt? Spending grew 100% under Mayor Moneybags! Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

 A classic anti- American poster highly useful for illustrating "Anti- Americanism".  It was circulated in Germany during World War II.

This guy or Brad Young for Mayor?  Are you sure you want this comedian to be your next mayor?  This guy looks more like a comedian than a business man.  This guy has betrayed public trust through his tricks in the court room as a defense lawyer for the wealthy. Brad Young Comedian

BIAS  an inclination to present or hold a partial perspective or point of view.  A bias could, for example, lead one to accept or not-accept the truth of a claim, not because of the strength of the claim itself, but because it does or does not correspond to one's own preconceived ideas.  Bias can come in many forms. –Television –Novels –Newspapers –Magazines –Advertisements

How do we make sure that we are making informed choices, instead of allowing others to sway us in our decision-making? Clipart-Microsoft Office XP 2002

We make our own choices when … we read and listen to reliable sources, we watch for combinations of truths and lies, we check for hidden messages, we watch for use of propaganda techniques,

and, most importantly, educationservice WHEN WE LISTEN TO OUR OWN VOICES !