The

The What do you think of when you hear the word propaganda? For many people, that word is associated with lies, manipulation, and government power. The first time I can recall hearing that word was in

grade school when my teacher explained how the Nazi government used propaganda to push its

agenda, create scapegoats, and brainwash the people. Propaganda, it seemed, was something that

evil people did for an evil political agenda. Political scientists often point out

that the origin of the term is a bit more neutral. The term propaganda is related to the word

propagate, as in propagating an idea. It doesn't specify whether that idea is good or bad. At its core, propaganda is merely the use of any media,

be it a poster, a pamphlet, a book, a movie, a website,

or anything else that promotes an opinion or conveys an ideology.

And it's something that seeks to persuade an audience

to support that opinion or ideology.

According to that definition,

it's hard to imagine a government not engaging in propaganda, especially in modern republics, where its existence depends on being able to persuade the people to support it. But still,

the negative connotation to propaganda remains. It's usually not a compliment to say that

something is propaganda. Many governments around the world have had official propaganda departments.

By contrast, Americans have long cherished their right to freedom of speech and have feared

government-led attempts to control speech. While the United States has been a beacon of

liberty for many, there was a time when it did actually have a propaganda wing, and it happened under

President Woodrow Wilson. Under his watch, the Committee on Public Information spread pro-government

propaganda during the First World War.

On our show today is Professor John Hamilton, author of the book Manipulating the Masses,

Woodrow Wilson and the Birth of American Propaganda.

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