Bias and Propaganda WHAT IS BIAS? ●Bias is writing which is slanted toward one opinion ●An unbiased article would present both sides of the issues WHAT IS PROPAGANDA? ●Propaganda is a way of wording or structuring something so it appeals mostly to emotions, and it distorts facts. ●It is used to promote a one sided argument aimed at winning people over to a certain cause or belief TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Loaded words and phrases / emotional appeal ●Buzzwords which create a certain reaction in the audience without thinking ●For example, customers react positively to the word “free” even if there are hidden costs EXAMPLE TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Name calling / demonizing the enemy -An attack on a person instead of an issue -Attaching a word to a person in order to take advantage of the words emotional meaning NAME CALLING TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Euphemisms ●Using words that make harsh or bad things sound not so bad ●For example, a person “passed away” instead of “died, croaked, kicked the bucket” EUPHEMISM Correctional Facility instead of a JAIL TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●The bandwagon technique ●It encourages people to do something because others have already joined the cause or participated in the action ●Do it or buy it because everyone else is EXAMPLE TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Testimonial ●Provides a source to give credibility to or support a statement ●Problems arise when someone unqualified recommends a product ●www.youtube.com/watch?v=lud7IY0blNEl ●Has Ronnie ever really needed to lose weight and use this product? TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Transference ●Tries to transfer the authority of one person, product, or organization to something or someone else ●http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=xAVALXH9nxU ●Do you think these dentists are qualified to speak on behalf of this product? TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Bad Logic ●An argument based on false premises or false logic ●Premise 1: Hillary Clinton supports gun-control legislation. ●Premise 2: All fascist regimes of the twentieth century have passed gun-control legislation. ●Conclusion: Hillary Clinton is a fascist. TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Fear ●An appeal to fear that a certain disaster or tragedy will occur if certain action is not taken ●Sometimes the warning may be legitimate, but if the warning lack proof, it can be propaganda ●http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=3FtNm9CgA6U ●Does this commercial make you afraid? TYPES OF PROPAGANDA: ●Stereotyping / Sweeping Generalization ●Lumping all people into a certain group without any regard for the individual ●Based on limited information ●http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=8tZR3M7SQwA ●Do all “manly” men have to like this type of hamburger? TYPES OF PROPAGANDA ●Glittering generalities ●This technique is mainly used in advertising, with a particular company creating an illusion that their product is better than their competitors on no particular grounds. ●http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=31pEZWaIhr0 ●According to this commercial what makes Pepsi better than Coke? REPETITION ●Persuades someone to buy something by repeating a message over and over again ●http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=wEuuECHZaeU ●Did you hear the repetition? Does it work? CIRCULAR ARGUMENT ●States a conclusion as part of the proof of the argument NUMBERS, FACTS, STATISTICS ●Persuades us by showing how numbers can affect what we think. ●http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=atgF27aIgY4 ●What did you think of that??? WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW ABOUT PROPAGANDA? ●Knowing what propaganda is will help you know when you are or are not getting honest information..