Institutional Racism

VIII. Media Manipulation, Propaganda
& Disinformation
Media Manipulation is a series of related techniques in which partisans create an
image or argument that favors their particular interests. Such tactics may include the
use of logical fallacies, psychological manipulations, outright deception, rhetorical
and propaganda techniques, and often involve the suppression of information or points
of view by crowding them out, by inducing other people or groups of people to stop
listening to certain arguments, or by simply diverting attention elsewhere.
In Propaganda:
The Formation of Men's Attitudes, Jacques Ellul writes that public opinion can only
express itself through channels which are provided by the mass media of
communication – without which there could be no propaganda. It is used within public
relations, propaganda, marketing, etc. While the objective for each context is quite
different, the broad techniques are often similar.
As illustrated below, many of the more modern mass media manipulation methods are
types of distraction, on the assumption that the public has a limited attention span.
Activism
Contexts
Activism is the practice or doctrine that has an emphasis on direct vigorous action
especially supporting or opposing one side of a controversial matter. It is quite simply
starting a movement to effect or change social views. It is frequently started by
influential individuals but is done collectively through social movements with large
masses.[4] These social movements can be done through public rallies, strikes, street
marches and even rants on social media.
A large social movement that has changed public opinion through time would be the
'Civil Rights March on Washington', where Martin Luther King Jr. performed his 'I Have
a Dream' speech attempting to change social views on Non-White Americans in the
United States of America, 28 August 1963.
Most of King's movements were done through non-violent rallies and public speeches to
show the white American population that they were peaceful but also wanted change in
their community. In 1964, the 'Civil Rights Acts' commenced giving Non-White
Americans equality with all races.
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