Propaganda and World War One - Essay Example

Propaganda is an effective tool of communication to influence the perception of a particular audience. It has the capacity to alter a group’s position with regard to an issue by appealing first to their emotions rather than mental faculties. This is accomplished by utilizing the different forms of media such as print and film. In its basic sense, propaganda can easily be judged as bias, as its purpose is to change the behavior of people in whatever way possible.

This means that an author of propaganda has the tendency to actually publish false information to the public just to achieve its end. At most, governments of the world are guilty of this fact. This is clearly illustrated in the newspaper articles respectively released by opposing states during World War One.        The Propaganda During the intense battle of Germans and the Allied Forces in 1914, the British government published a written report about its accomplishments in the war.

The following is an excerpt from the British newspaper:  To the north of Ypres, our progress has been continued, especially on our left. We have taken six quick-firers, two bomb-throwers, and much material; and made several hundred prisoners, including several officers. The losses of the enemy were extremely high. At a single point on the front, in the proximity of the canal, we counted more than six hundred German dead. On the heights of the Meuse, on the front Les Eparges-St Remy-Calonne trench, we have continued to gain ground, about one kilometer, and have inflicted on the enemy very severe losses.

(Trueman “Propaganda”) Analysis There are actually three types of propaganda namely, the white, grey, and black propaganda (Levinson). The use of these propaganda depends on the facts surrounding an issue. However, a barrier should always be present so that a particular type of propaganda can be conducted. The barrier serves as the point where the media can set the agenda to be taken by the public. Through this way, the media can actually limit the information that can reach its targeted audience.

Mass media then is the instrument that links the view of an individual to the real fact (Rogers).