Edwards Learns of Perils of Political Bloggers - New York Times

Edwards Learns of Perils of Political Bloggers - New York Times

The Times has published an interesting report on the perils of the latest fad in new media campaigning: blogging. The Edwards campaign hired bloggers to promote their candidate. These bloggers have a long trail of opinionated posts that have now become news and a distraction from the controlled message of the campaign. Blogging is all about opinions and campaigns are all about control. The Edwards campaign is trying to harness the networking power of the new media but the blogosphere is not so easily packaged or managed.

Propaganda a Way to control Society

In order for the propagandist to be able to achieve their goal of manipulating society into believeing their thoughts and ideas they must conceal their identity.By concealing their identity they are consealing their sources which gives that piece of propganda more credibility. A propagandist wants complete control weather they believe the message that they are sending out into society is true or not.

"Control of information flow takes the form of withholding information, releasing information at predetermined times, releasing information in
juxtaposition with other information that may influence public perception,
manufacturing information, communicating information to selective audiences and
distorting information. The proagadist tries to control information flow in two
ways: (a) controlling the media as a source of information distribution and (b)
presenting distorted information from what appears to be a credible source."

Persuasion-an interactive relationship

According to our text book, persuasion is defined as

"a complex, continuing, interactive process in which a sender and a receiver are linked by symbols, verbal and nonverbal, through which the persuader attempts to influence the persuadee to adopt a change in a given attitude or behavior,
because the persuadee has had perceptions enlarged or changed."

Persuasion is a process between a person/group/committee trying to change the beliefs or habits of other individuals or groups. They persuader uses repetitious means to convince the persuadee to change their thoughts, ideas or buying habits for "both" their benefit.

Persuasion is a two way interaction. The persuadee believes that their needs are being met, while the persuader fills a need. Persuasion also seeks to change the attitudes of those being persuaded. The persuader must teach or advise the persuadee to do what will benefit the persuadee. Values, beliefs and attitudes are what is worked on during persuasion. The persuader is trying to change or modify the behaviors of the persuadee.

Persuasion can be positive or negative. The persuasion of a leader, like Jim Jones, is an extreme case of negative persuasion. A positive effect of persuasion would be the amount of smokers who choose to quit smoking as a reaction to the persuasion of the anti-smoking advertising placed in the media.

First Written Assignment

First Essay Assignment
Due: Tuesday 3/6

Choose two of the following questions. Your two-part essay must make clear and explicit use of the assigned readings. Essays which are not explicitly and primarily based on the assigned readings will not be accepted. Try to incorporate your blog postings into your essay. Your two-part essay should be six to ten typed pages in length. Use quotation marks and cite your sources clearly using a standard form of citation. Do not plagiarize. Plagiarism is grounds for failure for the entire semester. If you are unsure about what constitutes plagiarism see the instructor immediately.

1. Write an essay discussing what you think are the 4 most important and useful concepts for the analysis of propaganda and the media that you found in the following assigned readings:

Harold Lasswell, “Propaganda,” 1934.
Jacques Ellul, “The Characteristics of Propaganda,” 1965.
Jowett & O’Donnell, Chapter 1: “What is Propaganda . . .”
Chomsky & Herman, Chapter One of Manufacturing Consent

3. Among the documents of the Spanish-American War provided in your reading packet are a number of short speeches: Senator Albert J. Beveridge, President William McKinley, and Booker T. Washington speaking for the war and American expansion; William Jennings Bryan and Carl Schurz speaking against “imperialist” expansion. Using these and any other documents you may choose, discuss in detail the different rhetorical approaches used to persuade the American public that the war and American expansionism was a just or unjust cause. Please discuss the use of race and racism in the arguments for and against American expansion in 1898. Your answer should discuss both the imperialist and the isolationist perspectives.
Compare and contrast the language and rhetoric used in these speeches with a speech by our current president, George W. Bush, on the war in Iraq & Afghanistan. You may also wish to include a WWI speech by Woodrow Wilson in your discussion. What conclusions can you draw from your comparison of these speeches mobilizing America for war in different eras?

4. Discuss the role of the media in the War of 1898. In your answer please use examples from the documents provided. Why did the U.S. go to war? What role did the press have in this decision to declare war on Spain? What effect did the war have on the newspaper business? How does learning about the role of the mass circulation papers in this war help us to understand American propaganda of war in general?

5. Why did Woodrow Wilson create the CPI? What were the problems that the CPI was supposed to address? Describe the CPI, what kinds of people were involved and why? How did Creel and his minions attempt to shape public opinion? Please discuss the relationship between the media and the government in the American mobilization for the Great War. How did the institution of the CPI represent something new in the history of American propaganda? How did the work of the CPI represent a new relationship between the American public and the government? What does this have to do with democracy?

6. George Creel insists that the “house of truth” did not appeal to the emotions of the public but only to reason. What does this have to do with Creel’s background in progressive publicity? Please discuss the conflict between the use of ‘fact’ and rationality vs. images and emotions in WWI propaganda. Could the CPI have won the battle for public opinion with facts alone? What does the shift from the fact based propaganda of rational argument toward emotional propaganda images tell us? How does this shift from rational argument to emotional appeal represent changing ideas about the public mind, about social psychology and about the best way to manage public opinion? Creel also wrote that the work of the CPI was about “expression” not “suppression,” what did he mean? Was this true?

7. What lesson did the practitioners of the new profession of public relations learn from WWI? In their search for new ideas and techniques with which manage public opinion, the pioneers of public relations--men like Ivy Lee, Edward Bernays, and intellectuals like Walter Lippmann--turned to psychology for answers about how to shape the public mind. What did they learn about this “public mind” from the psychologists? What were Lippmann’s ideas about Public Opinion? How did men like Edward Bernays apply these lessons to the business of public relations?

Class Schedule 2/8 -- 2/15

Manufacturing Consent: A Propaganda Model of the Media
(Tuesday 2/6, Thursday 2/8)
Reading:
Jowett & O’Donnell, Chapter 1: “What is Propaganda . . .”
Chomsky & Herman, Chapter One of Manufacturing Consent

Republic or Empire? Yellow Journalism & Our War with Spain.
(Tuesday 2/13, Thursday, 2/15)
Readings:
(Tu. 2/13): Primary Documents, “Imperialism & the Spanish American War,”
(Th. 2/15): Albert Beveridge, “March of the Flag,” 1898.
William McKinley, “Emancipators not Masters,” 1898.
William Jennings Bryan, “Imperialism,” 1898).
Carl Schurz, “Imperialism Hostile to Liberty,” 1899.
Booker T. Washington, “The Better Part,” 1898.
Terrey Ramsaye, “Blackton, Smith and Rock,” 1925.

Propaganda: Lasswell & Ellul

Propaganda can have different meanings depending on who is defining the words. The definition of propaganda can vary based on ones views and values.

According to Laswell, "Propaganda in the broadest sense is the manipulations of the representations. (Laswell, 13)" Laswell believes that both advertising and publicity fall under the field of propaganda. "Modern revolutionaries use propaganda to mean the spreading of doctrine; incitement is agitation. (Laswell, 13)"

According to Ellul, Propaganda is look upon "As a collection of "gimmicks" and of more or less serious practices. And psychologists and sociologists very often reject the scientific character of these practices. (Ellul, 1)."

Even though propaganda can be defined in many ways, the effects of it holds a lot of power. According to Harold D. Lasswell, "not only does propaganda seek to invade the whole man, to lead him to adopt a mystical attitude and reach him through all possible psychological channels, but, more, it speaks to all men." Meaning that propaganda leaves no room for discussion, it simply takes over ones thought.

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.

Propaganda's First Filter - Herman & Chomsky

In 1988, Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky wrote a book titled "Manufacturing Consent". In the first chapter, they describe the many "fiters" that exist within the mass media that information must pass through in order to be acceptable to the masses. The first filter, as Herman & Chomsky describe, is the filter of "size, ownership, and profit orientation of the mass media". Both describe how the present day ownership of the major media outlets are controlled by wealthy individuals and organizations. It is practically impossible for an individual to go into the media buisness, all the way from a small newspaper or magazine publication to a large television coporation. The costs are prohibitive. They also describe how describe how many have direct and indirect connections with the goverment. After reading this article, it reinforced my belief that the information coming from mass media sources are tainted by the needs and bias of the organization and shareholders of those media outlets. This may be why many have turned to the internet for news and information, despite the internet's repeated inaccuracies. It becomes difficult, if not impossible, for differing viewpoints to get across to the populace when the media is so tightly controlled. Due to the tight control over the media, Congress attempted to pass a law known as the fairness doctrine, which would attempt to permit equal points of view to be reflected. The law was ultimatly vetoed by President Reagan.

Governent Dependence

Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman state; "Another structural relationship of importance is the media companie's dependence on ties with government". While a company wants to express themselves in the most free manner it is not always possible. One such example of this came in 2004 when the F.C.C. started to crack down on Howard Sterns moring show because of his negative open opinions about President Bush. While Howard used to get away with an accidental curse here and there before, he now was getting fined and scrutinized for any little slip up. While K Rock did support him, they also did not want to lose everything they had. KRock is a prime example of how the relationship with the government is importnat for a media company. Thye have to maintain a good relationship if they want to be able to keep running smoothly. While there is freedom of speech in our society, it is not unlimited and media comapnies know that this is a fact of life for them.

Media Advertising

The article "Manufacturing Consent" was based on an in-depth propaganda model that broke down how propaganda is spread through out the mass media. The people in the forefront of the media may not even be aware of the propaganda because it is coming from a higher power. A lot of what is seen on television is controlled by wealthy people and businesses. In the reading, there were five filters or parts of how propaganda travels through the mass media.

"The essential ingredients of our propaganda model, or set of news "filters," fall under the following headings: 1 size, concentrated ownership, owner wealth, and profit orientation of the dominant mass-media firms; 2 advertising as the primary income source of the mass media; 3 the reliance of the media on information provided by government, business, and "experts" funded and approved by these primary sources and agents of power; 4 "flak" as a means of disciplining the media; and 5 "anticommunism" as a national religion and control mechanism."

The filter that I found to be the most interesting was "advertising as the primary income source of mass media." It really made the most sense to me because businesses pay a lot of money to advertise on television and magazines, therefore it gives them lots of power to decide where they want there product advertised. The advertisers are able to dictate what is shown before or after their ad and if they feel that the t.v. show before their ad is shown is too depressing, they may not want to pay for an advertising spot then. The stations often cater to what advertisers want.

Ellul on Media and Propaganda

Jacques Ellul wrote: "It is the emergence of mass media which makes possible the use of propaganda techniques on a societal scale. The orchestration of press, radio and television to create a continuous, lasting and total environment renders the influence of propaganda virtually unnoticed precisely because it creates a constant environment. Mass media provides the essential link between the individual and the demands of the technological society."

Ellul explains that media sources are constant, so when propaganda is involved it goes unnoticed. He believed that the media was just another way to control human destiny, claiming that special interests, such as the market or state, manipulated the media. That there is total control of what is printed and/or put on-air.

Ellul on Total Propaganda

Ellul stated "propaganda must be told. the progandist must utilize all the technical means at his disposal-the press, radio,tv,movies posters, meetings door to door cancassing. modern progpaganda must utilize all of this media."

I felt that he feels in order to really use propaganda you have to use it in every way you can. In order to get your ideas and what you want people to think across, this is the only way you really can I think this is true, because if something is everywhere you go, and everything you here is telling you the same thing your going to soon enough believe it.

Advertising and the media

Political discrimination by advertisers is a key factor concerning working class and radical media. These forms of media struggle due to heir ideologies and may be forced into being more conservativewith their choice of topic and content of their program.

"Public television station WNET lost its corporate funding from Gulf + Western in 1985 after the station showed the documentary"Hungry for Profit," which contains material critical of multi-national corporate activites in the third world." (Herman and Chomsky).

Companies looking to advertise in the media will choose their format and program carefully to cater to their needs and political preference. A company will rarely choose to advertise on a program dealing with controversial issues of the time. Most often these advertisers will stay fairly conservative on their choices in order to keep a good rapport with the public.

"Large corporate advertisers on televison will rarely sponsor programs that
engage in serious criticisms of corporate activities, such as the problem of
environmental degradation, the workings ofthe military-industrial complex, or
corporate support of and benefits from Third World tyrannies" (Herman and Chomsky)

These advertisers have the ability to pick and choose their programs for their ads to run because its the advertisers that fund the program, newspaper etc. that it is published or ran in.

Manufacturing Consent

Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media
(A Left Wing Perspective of Media)

After reading this article I felt it was important to focus on how modern media is run through propaganda. The most important factor effecting media is money and profits. Early in the article they summarize this fact well.
“A propaganda model focuses on inequality in wealth and power and its effects on mass-media.”
“Money and power are able to filter out the news fit to print, marginalize dissent, and allow the government and dominant private interest groups to get their messages across to the public.”
What Herman and Chomsky basically are saying is that media and news is dominated by the almighty dollar, profits, advertising and corporate interests will dominate and sway what is actually portrayed in the news.
The news is dictated by economics, a news team cannot be everywhere obviously so a paper or television news will send their reporters and researchers to where specific events are taking place (such as places wars are taking place, the white house, courthouses) or where they are “tipped” off to be.
Many corporations or private interest groups through their donations and press releases to news groups can end up gaining “positive” press and more press coverage therefore dictating the news or media, this in turn could be considered propaganda in my opinion since there is never an unbiased view in media although many papers and news broadcasts claim to be unbiased.
All media according to Herman and Chomsky are susceptible to becoming tools of propaganda either through the government, or financial interests, that’s the bottom line.
“A propaganda approach to media coverage suggests systematic and highly political dichotomization in news coverage based on serviceability to important domestic power interests.”

Jacques Ellul and the radio

To me I liked the view about the radio. The reson for this is because I think that people do not think of the radio in the same way that people did in Ellul's period. The radio i think is more taken for granted today because we have so many other outlets of entertainment. The thing is though I dont think people realize how much they do listen to the radio. For example most people listen the radio when they are in their car and that is basically the only form of entertainment and they are alone so they have nothing else to do nut listen. That is why the radio can then use that time spent in the car to use its propaganda and persuade the listener to that point of view.

Truth & Righteousness vs. Propaganda

We must remember that in time of war what is said on the enemy's side of the front is always propaganda, and what is said on our side of the front is truth and righteousness, the cause of humanity and a crusade for peace.

— Walter Lippmann

This interesting quote from Walter Lippman is applicable to any country during wartime, but particularly to the U.S. in times of war in the past and present. The ever-pervasive media in all its forms influence our opinions on the war effort and action being taken by our government. As it is presented to us, how we as individuals is affected depends on our own interpretations.

Further examples of war propaganda can be found at Sivacracy.net, or this page through NYU.

Laswell's Interpretation of Propaganda

In the article by Harold D. Lawell regarding propaganda the political sociologist expresses :

"The propagandist's task is to intensify attitudes favorable to his purposes, to reverse obstructive attitudes, to win the indifferent or at least to prevent them from becoming antagonistic."

Laswell is explaining how the propagandist has to win over one's views and prevent them from opposing them. The propaganist is the one in control and the social group he is trying to acquire is his main goal in changing their values or opinions.

www.propagandacritic.com/articles/ww1.demons.html

Influencing Humans Opinions

"Propaganda in the broadest sense is the technique of influencing human action by the manipulation of representations." (Lasswell 13) Lasswell's argument and quote is that propaganda can come from any one person or group of people to help their cause of influence. The article talks about how propaganda is used to persuade another into taking action towards the idea that the propagandist is preaching. Propagandists can spread their words through various forms. Examples would be musical lyrics, posters, and art forms. The ultimate goal is to always make the participant take action such as propagandists did in World War I and II as the article stated. Personally, I feel people can be manipulated very easily to see another persons views. Lasswell brings about many fine points about how their are different forms of propaganda and their purpose is always the same to influence the participant into taking action which interests me . Finally, I think propaganda is a powerful tool that when used correctly can make a difference in the way people perceive significant issues affecting their lives.

A propaganda model

In Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Medi, Edward Herman said,
"The essential ingredients of our propaganda model, or set of news "filters," fall under teh following headings: (!) the size concentrated ownership, owner wealth and profit orientation of the dominate mass media firms, (2) advertising as the primary income aource of new mass media, (3) the reliance of the media on information provided by the government, buisness, and experts funded and approved by these primary sources and agents of power. (4) Flak as a meaning of dicipline the media and (5) anticomunism as a national religon and control mechanism.
After reading this quote and continue on in the packet he has given good examples on how these five factors can be used for propaganda. In my opinion the greatest factor is advertisement, because it is the primary source of income for all media. The adveriser who could be big corporates know that their ads are important to the media that they can exhibit more control over the media. Also, any other organization can exhibit pressure on the companies to pull their ads from a media. In other word all the other four can use advertising to their benefit.