Euphemisms

Euphemisms

When propagandists use glittering generalities and name-calling symbols, they are attempting to arouse their audience with vivid, emotionally suggestive words. In certain situations, however, the propagandist attempts to pacify the audience in order to make an unpleasant reality more palatable. This is accomplished by using words that are bland and euphemistic.

Continue Reading... Labels: Madeleine McCann

Stereotyping or Labeling

Stereotyping or Labeling:

This technique attempts to arouse prejudices in an audience by labeling the object of the propaganda campaign as something the target audience fears, hates, loathes, or finds undesirable.

Continue Reading... Labels: Gonçalo Amaral, Madeleine McCann

Testimonial

Testimonial:

Testimonials are quotations, in or out of context, especially cited to support or reject a given policy, action, program, or personality. The reputation or the role (expert, respected public figure, etc.) of the individual giving the statement is exploited.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2010, CEOP, Jim Gamble, Madeleine McCann

Scapegoating

Scapegoating

Assigning blame  to an individual or group, thus alleviating feelings of guilt from responsible parties and/or distracting attention  from the need to fix the problem for which blame is being assigned.

Continue Reading... Labels: 2010, Find Madeleine Fund, Gonçalo Amaral, Robert Murat

False Comparison or Analogy

False Analogy

In this technique, two things that may or may not really be similar are portrayed as being similar.

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"Either / Or" also called "Black and White"

EITHER / OR

This technique is also called "black-and-white thinking" because only two choices are given. You are either for something or against it; there is no middle ground or shades of gray. It is used to polarize issues, and negates all attempts to find a common ground.

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Transfer

Transfer:

In this technique, an attempt is made to transfer the prestige of a positive symbol to a person or an idea.

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Straw Man

Straw Man

Because it is easier to demolish a man of straw than to beat a live opponent fairly, propagandists sometimes pretend that they are responding to the views of their opponents when they are only setting up a type of artificial opposition which they can easily prove to be wrong.

Continue Reading... Labels: BBC, Gonçalo Amaral, Madeleine McCann

Name calling

Name calling:

This techniques consists of attaching a negative label to a person or a thing. People engage in this type of behavior when they are trying to avoid supporting their own opinion with facts. Rather than explain what they believe in, they prefer to try to tear their opponent down.

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Appeal To Fear, Scare Tactics

Appeals to fear
seeks to build support by instilling fear in the general population - for example Joseph Goebbels exploited Theodore Kaufman's Germany Must Perish! to claim that the Allies sought the extermination of the German people.

Continue Reading... Labels: Madeleine McCann