Power of the Press

Primary Documents: "The Whole Country Thrills With War Fever"

The press truly holds the power to manipulate society's beliefs. During the Spanish American war, the press wrote articles with language that was so persuasive that the people usually believed everything that they read. Some of the articles said things such as:

"I saw what was left of these poor bodies immediately after the troops had left...The skulls of all were split to pieces down to the eyes. Some of these were gouged out. All the bodies had been stabbed by sword bayonets and hacked by sabers until i could not count the cuts: they were indistinguishable."

Language like this is used to paint a picture in the readers mind, and that it did. Strangely, many of the authors of such articles did not experience these accounts first hand. They just wrote off of information they received through word-of-mouth. This brings up the question: Is the press really so powerful, or is society very gullible? Even though either of these may be the truth, the press is there to inform the citizens. The truth may have been exaggerated but it was the only form of information the citizens had on the war.

The Spanish-American War and Unethical Implications of Advertisements

In the July 1898 issue of Industry journal Printers' Ink, (found in the Primary Documents packet on page 7), among many others in this time period, there is an ad that appeared which has a significant amount of discriminatory, war-selling propaganda underlying the actual Pears' Soap product. This ad, appears to have done way too much to sell a bar of soap. Realistically, the soap can be observed as an aspect of the ad that is almost completely overshadowed by the support for the U.S.'s imperialistic practices and more importantly, their right to wage war "in the darkest corners of the Earth"...but for a "noble" cause of course. The text in the advertisement reads as the following:

"The first step towards lightening The White Man's Burden" is through the virtues of
cleanliness. Pears' Soap is a potent factor in brightening the dark corners of the earth as
civilization advances, while amongst the cultured of all nations, it holds the highest place-it is
the ideal toilet soap."

This advertisement is obviously not just selling soap. First of all, it is selling the idea that a "white man's" soap is necessary in order to turn evil or darkness into light and is damagingly, acknowledging that the "white man" is superior by mentioning the "white man's burden" as a true concept to consider. With that in mind, the fact that the term "dark" was used leaves the ad open to the vulnerability of double meaning, which in terms of advertising is a huge stength. If an ad can be interpreted in more than one way, there will be multiple types of people making a connection to the specified product, which in turn, will equal more sales. To the Newspaper-brainwashed American consumer during the era of the Spanish American War, "dark" could have translated into a description of perilous and murky regions of the Earth or more likely, a description of places that inhabit people of a darker skin tone (i.e. Cuba) than the typical American with white skin. Furthermore, by stating that "while amongst the cultured of all nations, it (the soap) holds the highest place-it is the ideal toilet soap," the ad is belittling the impoverished or "dark" nations by saying that white men merely use Pears soap as a toilet soap. Yet in those countries, the soap is implicated as the substance that will enable them to clean their way into being considered a "civilized people." This all contributes to the use of propaganda, as a way of portraying a particular group of people as "less than worthy" and worth having a war against. This propaganda is very typical in the Era of yellow journalism and the Spanish-American war.

Another point to consider is that at the Pear's Soap website (http://www.pearsinternational.com), they have a historical background of the company, inclusing old advertisements and a historical timeline of progress. However, 1887 is the last notation on their history and the ad quoted above is completely skipped over, as if it never existed. This type of ad fed to the American people for the goal of nothing but enormous profits and inculcation, must have been something that they later became ashamed of...At the very least, I hope they did omit it for that reason, as being ethically responsible should also be considered in a world of war and advertising.

The people are the product

There are many filters in the political economy of the Mass Media but the one I focused a lot on was the second filter "The advertising license to do business" the authors believes that in having a business a news paper has an attracting product which it offers to people who buy it. According to the second filter the news is actually nothing by itself, its just basically a something that fills you in and keep you posted on whats going on. Any story or information that may conflict with it or may prevent people from buying will tend to be unimportant or secondary to or banned.

"Advertisers will want, more generally, to avoid programs with serious complexes and disturbing controversies that inter fare with the "buying mood." They seek programs that will lightly entertain and thus fit in with the spirit of the primary purpose of program purchases the dissemination of a selling message."

The theory is arguing that the people who are supporting and purchasing the newspaper are actually the product that being sold to the many businesses.

Who Really Took San Juan Hill?

The Spanish American War did more than propagate against the Spainish and sail America into the realm of imperialism. It was also used to maintain the status quo of racial segregation back home. An example of this would be the myth of Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders storming San Juan Hill in the war's bloodiest battle. Part of the myth has Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders storming the hill while regulars, scared, refused and stayed at the base.

In actuality, there were over 8,000 troops involved in the taking of San Juan Hill, with 1250 of them part of African American Calvary and Infantry Units. These troops who were to be known as "Buffalo Soldiers" were as intricate a part of the mission as Lt. Col. Roosevelt's Riders.

While immediate reports highlighted the Buffalo Soldiers and gave pride to African Americans stateside, their story would soon be forgotten in lieu of the growing myth of the war hero turned President Roosevelt who would "speak softly and carry a big stick." Nearly a century later the "nation would rediscover the Buffalo Soldiers."

Hungry Journalist

Primary Documents: "The Growth and Expansion of Public Opinion"
E.L. Godkin, Atlantic Monthly, January, 1898

"Newspapers are made to sell; and for this purpose there is nothing better than war. War means daily sensation and excitement. On this almost any kind of newspaper may live and make money. Whether the war brings victory or defeat makes the difference. The important thing is that in war every moment may bring important and exciting news, news which does not need to be accurate or bear sifting."

The growth of public opinion has advanced over times history. Giving more lead way in what can actually be said in a newspaper or any printed material at that. During this era, war has played center stage, and many journalist have made it their life goals to spread the "real or entertainment" of war. Because of the sentimental actions of September 11, 2001 and the days following that crisis, printed media has evaluated their economic growth by the millions, but the question should of been, "should newspapers be free during times of war?"

It all starts with Religion....

To spread an idea or an action by word of mouth, writing in a newspaper or any other form that will grab someones attention is called Propaganda. Sometimes, in order to get your point across, an individual has to spread a message no matter what it takes. Techniques in spreading the word of Propaganda have become very unique. In todays society, we use television advertisements and subliminal messaging.

"The word was first given general currency by the Roman Catholic church to refer to the dissemination of its doctrine and was later adopted and adapted by Marxists. Modern revolutionaries use propaganda to mean the spreading of doctrine; incitement is agitation." (Lasswell, Propaganda)

Churches were looked at as a political power long ago. Most people turned to them for advice and direction. Most propaganda surrounds politics. If the government has the ability to influence a nation, then convincing them of an example of propaganda would not be a difficult task.

Down Right Lies

Upon being sent to Cuba to illustrate Spanish barbarianism in Cuba, Frederick Remington writes: "Everything is quiet. There is no trouble here. There will be no war. Wish to return. Remington". (Primary Documents: Imperialism and the Spanish American War).

Following this statement is an article from the New York World entitled "Blood, blood, blood!” In the article are statements such as "blood on the roadsides, blood in the fields, blood on the doorsteps, blood, blood, blood!" which depicts horrible circumstances of Spanish ruled Cuba. If this is not fact and Cuba as Remington says is "quiet" then how could the writer tell a down right lie or a fictional story? Where do morals come into play in this type of journalism?

One of the first things we learn as children is that it’s not right to lie. I believe most people carry on this simple moral code through their adulthood. With that said, how could literature such as "blood, blood, blood!" be accepted or even published when it is attempting to convince people to be pro war based on non factual reporting. In the land of justice it certainly seems like some things have been over looked.

E. L Godkin. The Growth & Expansion of Public Opinion

"...newspapers are made to sell; and for this purpose there is nothing better then war..."

(Godkin, 1898)

That last part of that statement made by E.L Godkin in the Atlantic Monthly newspaper is very striking to me. War, fighting, dying - why in the world would someone see that as a good thing? After reading this article it made sense to me although still confusing but I see how it wasn't meant to be taken as to glorify war.

"War means daily sensation and excitment"

(Godkin, 1898)

As sad as it may be, this is 100% true. It is the same concept as with drama and rumors between high school students, there is never a dull moment. Drama and tradegy is what sells mostly. This doesn't mean people are heartless and have a drive for these types of things bit it is interesting. Everyone has there own opinion on things and journalism is informing people on sujects so they can develop that own opinion.

Herman and Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent"

In Chomsky and Herman's "Manufacturing Consent" they started off by stating the reason why propaganda is needed by writing,

"The mass media serve as a system for communicating messages and symbols to the general populace. It is their function to amuse, entertain, and inform, and to inculcate individuals with the values, beliefs, and codes of behavior that will integrate them into institutional structures of the larger society. In a world of concentrated wealth and major conflicts of class interest, to fulfil this role requires systematic propanda." (Chomsky and Herman,1)

I agree with this statement 110%. Americans are constantly engulfed in the lives of the rich and famous (elite), and issues regarding customs or beliefs that all Americans feel the same about. Being that most Americans are passive consumers it is very easy for the media to feed us with new customs and beliefs to follow. In feeding us these new customs they use propaganda. Its funny because many people look at propaganda as a negative thing, but then they pull out their eco bag or Obama pin which the media, through propaganda, told them was cool or "the right thing."

I guess what I'm saying is this. Lets take the whole green movement that's going on now for example. Eight or Nine years ago when Al Gore was trying to inform everybody about the horrors of pollution not that many cared. But a get a few hybrid car commercials, some Oprah Winfrey episodes on the issue, newly shaped "plastic" water bottles and everybody goes Eco crazy. Yet not noticing that through the "evil adds" of propaganda it helped change their minds and create awareness on the issue.

What I really got from Chomsky and Herman's piece is that an issue isn't an issue until the elite say its an issue. Being that everything that goes in our papers, or on our news stations, or radio news stations there is a big rich guy with a cigar agreeing or not agreeing with whether it will go on the show that he owns, or paper that he owns. That makes me understand how the common person can begin to feel like they don't have a say, and their opinion doesn't matter. But the more aware I become of the issues with objectivity and the elite owning the media, the more I realize that it will be a cold day in hell before anything changes. Chomsky and Herman stated the reasons: gov't controls everything, the media is too cheap to go against their sources, and the media is scared of flak from the powerful people who are doing most of the corruption anyway. So I say just wisen up. Know what your reading might not be the truth, and make decisions for yourself, not because the media persuaded you into it......and realize that propaganda isn't bad, it can just be turned that way.

Jeroslyn

The german V1 rocket leaflet campaign.

"During WWII all the combatants fired leaflets at each other by
artillery. At the height of the Cold War period the air between
mainland China and the offshore island of Quemoy was filled with
propaganda shells. In 1962, The London Telegraph stated that 1,700 gun positions faced Quemoy, but all they fired was the occasional leaflet shell...
In the Diary of a German Soldier Wilhelm Pruller says, "We got a new gun today with a barrel made of cardboard. And it shoots too, as far as two kilometers. The bullets are propaganda bombs which comprise more that 100 leaflets.""
Sergeant Major Herbert A. Friedman


The following article is about the rocket leaflet campaign during WWII.
This incident occurred more than forty years ago, but it is one of the
most striking applications of propaganda techniques in recent history.
Herbert A. Friedman, a popular Sergeant Major on his way to the top,
clearly understood the power of propaganda. In his article he wrote
about three phases of the V-1 PSYOP campaign:
1. leaflets carried and disseminated by the V1 flying bomb.
2. leaflets and postcards that threaten the Allies with death and
destruction by the V1.
3. leaflets that tell the Germans that they have lost the war.
He also speak about preparation to this campaign, describe it step by
step and illustrate the article with copies of the leaflets.

Fighting for the common man - not.

During a Presidential campaign, many candidates will spend whatever amount of money necessary in order to win the election. Speech writers, strategists, and publicists are typically hired in order to guide the said candidate throughout their political journey.

Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez has used different propaganda devices in order to be at the current state in which he has been since taking office in January of 1999. His known support for controversial figures such as Che Guevarra, attracted many who were angered by the unfair economical state in Latin America.

Chavez is clearly using the "Glittering generalities" device and according to the Institute for Propaganda Analysis (Page 218 of "How To Detect Propaganda"):

"the propagandist identifies his program with virtue by use 'virtue words.' Here he appeals to our emotions of love, generosity, and brotherhood."

A common term associated with Guevarra, and Chavez is "Revolucion" or "Revolution." A word like that has successfully captivated the hearts of many lower-class citizens, therefore, making Chavez capable of using the "Plain Folks" device. His campaign has included programs that would decrease high illiteracy rates, lower poverty, amongst other acts of social reform. Contrary to what Chavez has promised and proposed, it was easier to gain popularity and speak to the masses, but it hasn't been as easy to keep his word.

War - a source of revenue for the wealthy

PRIMARY DOCUMENTS: "The Conquest of the United States by Spain." William Graham Sumner, Yale Law Journal, January 1899
War: A Source of revenue for the wealthy!

This journal founded in our "Primary Documents" packet includes a few thought provoking elements of war, and who it really benefits. Graham states that: "In that war militarism, expansion and imperialism will all favor plutocracy(govt by the wealthy)." He furthermore, discusses how war distracts the common people from holding the "plutocrats" and the government officials accountable for how and where they are spending the public dollars.
In essence, William Graham lays out the entire structure of how wars and military expansions benefit the wealthy, and allow them the opportunity to exploit the weaker. He says "....they (plutocrats) will call for a large public debt and taxes (during the war), and these things especially tend to make men unequal, because any social burdens bear more heavily on the weak than on the strong...." So it clearly argues that war and expansion is not always for the betterment of another country, but rather an entire process orchestrated to benefit ONLY the rich.
I clearly agree with William Graham's entire idea of how war "weakens the weak." Today, in the 21st century our Media and Press is often lobbied to present a certain type of news in order to provoke wars, so that "a few" men can benefit from that country's resources. It is almost impossible, looking at the amount of resources and benefits that one can gets from a war, that the wars are solely ignited to propel peace and democracy. Unfortunately, we don't have leaders like George Washington or Thomas Jefferson, who would evaluate the cost of war through the eye's of a common man.

"In order for the War to be just, the mind must be completely Objective, however, it is humanely impossible to be Objective - which makes war unjust!" Faraz H. Kayani