Propaganda

1. Propaganda

2. What is propaganda? • Means by which the government could promote or publicize the war • Generally of a biased or misleading nature

3. What is propaganda? • Uses selective stories and partial facts • Reinforces motivations • Propaganda ensured that the people only got to know what their governments wanted them to know • Governments would go to any lengths to attempt to blacken the enemies name • Demonized the enemy

4. Influence of Propaganda • Posters were an important form of mass communication during WWI as there were no radios, television, etc. • Propaganda techniques included the use of slogans and catch phrases in order to get the viewers attention

5. Propaganda in the newspaper • Propaganda was not limited to posters • The government continued their censorship through the headlines that the newspapers were printing • Headlines were printed that were designed to stir up emotions whether they were accurate or not • Again, because this was before the time of the radio, newspapers had a massive influence as it was the main source of information concerning the war

6. Propaganda in the newspaper • Photographs would be shown of young men registering to be drafted to the war • Photographs would be shown of deceased enemies • As the war progressed, fewer pictures of the battlefield were published and were replaced with pictures from parades and training regiments

7. Why is propaganda effective? • Reinforced fear • People wish to believe the best about themselves and their country • It is made to seem very professional • Many people don’t realize that they are being shielded from the truth