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I. Psychological Warfare through Media Propaganda Prior and up to WII ..Page 21Lizzie Suiter, Jennifer Hucke and Courtney SchultzEDGE Final PaperDecember 2004The War at Home:A Look at Media Propaganda in WWII, Vietnam, and the War in IraqEvery war that America faced has been fought on two fronts, one at home and oneabroad. This war at home, battled through media propaganda, is essential to win over public support which, in turn, creates a united front against the common enemy. In this paper, we are going to look at three different wars, examining the evidence and dissectingthe different methods of spreading propaganda which have been used by both the media and the government. Using the examples of World War II, Vietnam War, and the War in Iraq, this paper will analyze how propaganda has evolved from pure persuasion of public opinion through mass media into the privately owned, war mongering media of today. I. Psychological Warfare through Media Propaganda Prior and up to WII ..Page 2By Lizzie SuiterII. Vietnam Propaganda…………………………………………………………Page 26By Jennifer HuckeIII. The Media and Propaganda during the War in Iraq………………….…..Page 38By Courtney Schultz2Edge final paperDecember 2004Psychological Warfare through Media Propaganda Prior and up to WIIMedia propaganda is an extremely dynamic and effective tool when utilized in times of warfare. The use of psychological warfare with military forces is not new in this world of media dominance. Dating back to the Spanish American war, mainstream media propaganda served as a way to generate finance, inform the public, advertise, and supportideologies. A turning point in media propaganda occurred during the Second World War when new technologies and methods of communication were inexperienced, yet fully capable and eager to control public opinion. Because the war was stationed on European soil, Americans could not see, hear, or experience the world firsthand. Owing to the fact that WWII was not on U.S. soil, the American public became reliant on any sort of media3that shared information. This need for news and dependence on the media gave the press great power to mold Americans’ perceptions of the war, their enemies, their goals, and their own culture. During WWII, propaganda was applied to a multitude of purposes suchas the breeding of patriotism, the distribution of information, and the installation of fear during wartime to provoke increased production and loyalty. Yet in accomplishing these goals, the media and its resulting propaganda produced an often contaminated view of thehappening events. This media spin, more often than not, gave way to circulating an exaggerated view of the war. Media propaganda chooses one side and places it vigilantly against another; then through its sometimes subtle and sometimes obvious efforts, propaganda demonizes the opposing view. Through this distorted view of the enemy, entire wars can be fought without weapons. Propaganda itself is a weapon in warfare, andits mobilization and success in World War II demonstrates the power of the media on public and political opinion.What Is Media and Propaganda?Different forms of media can most definitely have varying effects on the audience. During wartime, media is an influential tool to in serving as a constant reminder of the war. Even today, there is a headline at the bottom of every news station twenty four hours a day, seven days a week as a reminder of the war in Iraq. This brings into question the effect media has on American culture. Media is capable of initiating andinfluencing some of the values, behavior patterns and other characteristics that constitute the cultural fabric of a society. Yet in wartime, is the media a true reflection of our perceptions of war? In his book, To Hasten the Homecoming: How Americans Fought World War II Through the Media, Jordan Braverman wrote, “The media permeated4American culture in so many ways that perhaps, after a while, the public took the media for granted and became less conscious of the subliminal, but very real, effects the media had on our daily lives” (Braverman xx). The notion that the media can shape our impressions of events subconsciously is a frightening thought. This blurs the line of our own thinking and a thinking imposed by the media. Mass media as a medium possesses this power because the people behind it know how to correlate the type of media with its audience. Choosing a media type is a result of many factors. First, the media must have some credibility or else most audiences will ignore it. If a particular medium is causing the target audience to be non-responsive, then the suitability of the media was mismatched. This could be a result of poor language selection, vocabulary, and level of understanding. For example, it would be wise to use printed text such as a newspaper to deliver a message to an illiterate audience, while a professional journal might be the most suitable means of reaching a professional audience(“Psychological”). The availability of media, the capacity of message production, and the capability to deliver the message, as well as the ability of the audience to receive and understand it are all important elements. People issuing media messages also have to be aware of timeliness and quantity. The media selected should be mixed, one medium reinforcing the other, and delivered in sufficient volume and at the correct time to insure that the entire target is exposed to the message. For example, if an event occurs, when and how much the media covers it determines the success of the media medium chosen (“Psychological”). Through this discussion of different media methods, the issue of propaganda, its components, and its effects are brought into question. The dictionary defines propaganda5as “ideas, facts, or allegations that are spread deliberately to further one’s cause or damage or an opposing cause” (“Propaganda”). In essence, propaganda is a way to make events potentially more dramatic by creating a distinct good and bad side. Propaganda media has its own types of media methods as well and are categorized by methods of dissemination. Each type of propaganda media has its own levels of success in persuasion. The most effective means of transmitting a persuasive message is face to face(interpersonal) communication. This type of propaganda can be employed in rallies, rumor campaigns, group


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Stanford EDGE 297A - The War at Home

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