Confusing Propaganda

Another term used to describe propaganda is disinformation. As Jowett and O'Donnell state "Disinformation is made up of news stories deliberately designed to weaken adversaries and planted in newspapers by journalists who are actually secret agents of a foreign country. The stories are passed off as real and from credible sources." From a propagandists' perspective, this simply facilitates the spread of their ideology, regardless of its validity or lack thereof. However, from an audience's perspective, this presents a confusing view of propaganda. If there are "spies" working at credible sources, the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, and publishing stories, how is the reader not to believe it? The responsibility of the distribution of this disinformation now lies with the major company, instead of the propagandist himself. The allowance, even if not knowingly, of such secret agents to be employed at such a high level of credible journalism should not be allowed, or tolerated.