Shaun

=__**American War Propaganda**__=

What is Propaganda?
The definition of propaganda can be simply summed up as the manipulation of public opinion. Propaganda is most often implemented by a media outlet capable of reaching a large number of people and effectively persuading them toward a certain cause. It can be argued that any type of persuasive communication is classified as propaganda while others claim propaganda only specifically targets political views. Despite lacking an exact definition propaganda is generally accepted to be a form of communication that changes opinion and it can be found in many different forms. A more in depth look at the different propaganda techniques can be found here.

Propaganda itself has been around for a long time (dating back to ancient Greece and beyond) over the past few centuries advances in techniques and technology have allowed it to develop and improve. A brief time line of the use of American war propaganda can be found here. This can be associated with the development of mass communication. After of invention of the printing press propaganda no longer needed to be spread by word of mouth and could reach a much wider audience. Books and posters held much less risk than oral presentation. The next great jump in the use of propaganda came with the invention of radio. Radio reached many more people due to the fact that many people didn't bother reading the propaganda ads in books or posters. The most influential invention in the realm of propaganda was the television. In recent years the development of the internet has become a hugely important medium for propaganda especially in industrialized nations like America.

==="Propaganda consists of the planned use of any form of public or mass-produced communication designed to affect the minds and emotions of a given group for a specific purpose, whether military, economic, or political."=== Linebarger, Paul Myron Anthony. 1954. //Psychological Warfare//, 1954, Combat Forces Press, Washington (p. 39)

Addressing The Negative Connotation of Propaganda:
It is important to address the negative connotation that is commonly associated with the term "propaganda." Some people might associate it with lies and dishonesty, which is not an accurate representation of what the word really means. Not all individuals have a clear set opinion for stance over every issue and propaganda is generally used to try and sway these people to one side. If the use of propaganda is responsible or not is really a matter of opinion. Some view it as an instrument of evil used only to trick people into believing a certain point of view. Propagandists want to persuade others into accepting their point of view by convincing them of the validity of their own view. The purpose of propaganda is to change your opinions, but more importantly to influence your decisions. By understanding the purpose of propaganda and the method being used, one can go a long way toward making effective independent decisions.

Sources:
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0111500/whatis.htm

http://www.historians.org/projects/giroundtable/Propaganda/Propaganda8.htm

http://www.stentorian.com/propagan.html