✍️ Remembering What Propaganda Looks Like
Why honest communication serves democracy—and propaganda undermines it.
When I was a junior in high school 60 years ago, my journalism teacher in suburban Seattle taught us about propaganda. I don’t remember her exact words, but I recall this lesson: Beware of information that looks like news but is meant to persuade you before you have a chance to think for yourself.
That warning stuck with me.
Propaganda isn’t only about lies. Sometimes it’s a truth wrapped in emotion or fear, told to direct your anger, loyalty, or pride. It’s the art of shaping public opinion—sometimes by government, sometimes by private businesses—without admitting that persuasion is the goal.
I recall our teacher showing examples from Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. She wanted us to see how words and images can stir feelings that drown out facts. Journalism is supposed to do the opposite: Give people room to think for themselves.
That’s worth remembering today.
In recent weeks, propaganda has crept into official U.S. government communication. The Homeland Security secretary’s video shown in airports blames Democrats for the government shutdown. Statements on federal websites do the same. And around Washington, D.C., giant banners on government buildings praise the current president.
Administrations of both parties have taken credit for new public works projects—usually in small print on a sign and opening ceremonies. But what we’re seeing now is different: political messaging using taxpayer resources to promote a president.
When cabinet officials speak at government events and repeat campaign slogans or attack opponents, that’s propaganda too. It’s the blending of government information with political promotion. And on social media, that disinformation can quickly drown out facts.
There’s a long history of that temptation. Franklin Roosevelt’s “fireside chats” reassured a nation in crisis but were criticized by some as too personal and political. During the Cold War, the U.S. Information Agency broadcast democratic ideals overseas—propaganda with a purpose. After 9/11, the Bush administration’s “Mission Accomplished” banner blurred the line between military communication and political theater.
The difference between legitimate communication and propaganda often lies in intent and transparency. Good government communication explains. Propaganda manipulates. And partisan news outlets amplify political attacks and blur the truth.
I understood the difference as a working reporter, college journalism instructor, public information officer for local government, and volunteer for nonprofit organizations. In all those positions, it was important for me to provide clear, accurate information, asking and answering questions honestly—even when expressing a point of view, even while working in government.
Wherever people work or volunteer, intentionally providing or reporting misinformation (inaccuracies) and disinformation (lies) is unacceptable.
As citizens, we can stay alert and skeptical without becoming cynical. Ask:
Who is the source? Is this message from a neutral public agency or from political appointees trying to protect their boss?
What’s the goal? To inform? To explain? Or to blame and praise?
Are facts verifiable? Can you find the same information from independent experts, journalists, or watchdogs?
What’s missing? Propaganda usually hides what it doesn’t want you to see.
I don’t want Americans to distrust their government. Most government employees at all levels are professionals who serve the public with integrity. But we all need to separate honest information from political theater.
That’s not just troubling. It may also test the limits of federal law. The Hatch Act, written in 1939 to keep partisan politics out of government service, bars federal employees from using their positions or public resources for campaign purposes.
The problem isn’t that the law has disappeared; these days it’s that violations go unchecked and unpunished. When officials mix official duties with campaign-style messaging, they erode both the law and public trust.
Propaganda feeds on repetition and emotion. Democracy feeds on serious inquiry and reasonable skepticism.
My journalism lessons still echo: Question what you read and hear, but don’t stop reading and listening.
Learn More About Propaganda
A few trustworthy sources for understanding how persuasion becomes manipulation—and how to recognize it.
RAND Corporation – “Countering Truth Decay”
Independent research on the decline of facts in public life, explaining how misinformation spreads and how individuals and institutions can counter it.U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum – Teaching Materials on Propaganda
An educational overview of propaganda in Nazi Germany, showing how emotional and cultural appeals shaped public behavior.Media Literacy Now – Advocacy Toolkit for Parents and Individuals
National nonprofit promoting media-literacy standards and policy in schools across the United States.Poynter Institute – Fact-Checking and Media Literacy
Courses, guides, and digital-literacy tools that help readers identify bias, false claims, and propaganda techniques across news and social media.Pew Research Center – Media and Society
Data-driven studies of how Americans perceive bias, trustworthiness, and the line between news, advocacy, and propaganda.
pewresearch.orgNews Literacy Project – “Checkology” Virtual Classroom
Free, classroom-tested tools to help students and adults identify bias, spin, and propaganda in digital and traditional media.
And visit Plainly, Garbl’s Truth Toolkit:
Fact-Checking Resources for Informed Resistance
Understanding where to find reliable fact-checking resources is more critical than ever.
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