Propaganda is the dissemination of information—facts, arguments, rumours, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion . Deliberateness and a relatively heavy emphasis on manipulation distinguish propaganda from casual conversation or the free and easy exchange of ideas.

propaganda

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propaganda summary

propaganda

Q: When was propaganda first used?

People have employed the principles of propaganda—manipulating the dissemination of information and using symbols in an attempt to influence public opinion —for thousands of years, although the term propaganda , used in this sense, didn’t come about until the 17th century.

Q: Where is propaganda used?

Propaganda can be used in several areas, such as commercial advertising , public relations , political campaigns, diplomatic negotiations , legal arguments, and collective bargaining . It can be targeted toward groups of varying size and at the local, national, or global level.

Q: Who was the minister of propaganda for Hitler?

Joseph Goebbels was the minister of propaganda for the German Third Reich under Adolf Hitler .

Written by Bruce Lannes Smith

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Dec 9, 2024 • Article History

Key People:: Kim Yo-Jong; Adolf Hitler; Germaine de Staël; Joseph Goebbels; Alfred Charles William Harmsworth, Viscount Northcliffe

Related Topics:: sportswashing; agitprop; propagandistic art; big lie; canard

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What is propaganda?

When was propaganda first used?

Where is propaganda used?

Who was the minister of propaganda for Hitler?

propaganda, dissemination of information—facts, arguments, rumours, half-truths, or lies—to influence public opinion. It is often conveyed through mass media. Propaganda is the more or less systematic effort to manipulate other people’s beliefs, attitudes, or actions by means of symbols (words, gestures, banners, monuments, music, clothing, insignia, hairstyles, designs on coins and postage stamps, and so forth). Deliberateness and a relatively heavy emphasis on manipulation distinguish propaganda from casual conversation or the free and easy exchange of ideas. Propagandists have a specified goal or set of goals. To achieve these, they deliberately select facts, arguments, and displays of symbols and present ...(100 of 9454 words)

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