I've been researching more propaganda, especially during the Nazi regime in Germany before the Second World War. I found a good article on the library website, ehich I downloaded as a PDF but unfortunately my blog wont accept a PDF file, so Ive included the web address,

http://primo-44ccc.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo_library/libweb/action/display.do?frbrVersion=3&tabs=detailsTab&ct=display&fn=search&doc=TN_jstor_archive2745999&indx=1&recIds=TN_jstor_archive2745999&recIdxs=0&elementId=0&renderMode=poppedOut&displayMode=full&frbrVersion=3&frbg=&&dscnt=0&scp.scps=scope%3A%2844CCC_SFX%29%2Cscope%3A%2844CCC_ML%29%2Cscope%3A%2844CCC_LMS%29%2Cscope%3A%2844CCC_CREATE%29%2Cprimo_central_multiple_fe&mode=Basic&vid=44CCC_VU1&srt=rank&tab=default_tab&vl(freeText0)=goebbels%20principles%20of%20propaganda&dum=true&dstmp=1447361270272

Hopefully just click on it and it should take you to the article. If not search for Goebbels Principles of Propaganda by Leonard W Doob.

Anyway, here are a few thoughts on the issues raised.

Propaganda.

Goebbel’s principles of propaganda

1. Propagandists must have access to intelligence concerning events and public opinion. This is the same as saying that information is power, that a propagandist can’t fulfil their role unless they have enough information to make the propaganda seem believable.

2. Propaganda must be planned and executed by only one authority. This is about control, about being able to control the output of propaganda and so controls the message that is being promoted. By only having one source, the propaganda can’t contradict itself and so it becomes more clear and focused.

3. The propaganda consequences of an action must be considered in planning that action. This is about being able to see the end result and that the means justifies the end. Also the document points out that “it was more important for a propagandist to plan an event than to rationalize one that had occurred.” (P5) This means it is easier to act rather than to react because if the propagandist acts then they are in control of the situation rather then trying to control a situation.

4. Propaganda must affect the enemy’s policy and action. This concerns more the psychological warfare element, that by suppressing or promoting certain intelligence reports influences what the enemy does. This also means not reporting positive intelligence as it can give the enemy information they could find useful. A good example is that the CIA are infamous for stating “we can not confirm or deny that”.

5. Declassified, operational information must be available to implement a propaganda campaign. This would put the propaganda on a firm foundation and help to embellish the lie with the truth, which will then make the propaganda more successful.

6. To be perceived, propaganda must evoke the interest of an audience and must be transmitted through an attention getting communications medium. For the propaganda to be successful it needs to reach as many of the target audience as possible and hold their attention. The interesting element of this nowadays is how “communications mediums” are part of our everyday lives, such as smart phones and the internet. Consequently a propagandist message can infiltrate right into our personal and private lives.

7. Credibility alone must determine whether propaganda output should be true or false. If a lie is supported by truth then it becomes harder to disbelieve the lie and also when a lie is told it is more believable as it is seen as coming from a reliable, truthful source.

8. The purpose, content and effectiveness of enemy propaganda; the strength and effects of an expose; and the nature of current propaganda campaigns determine whether enemy propaganda should be ignored or refuted. This is related to point 2 above and is emphasised by having two different types of propaganda conflicting each other. If the propagandist is in control of events and there is no enemy propaganda to refute or challenge then it’s quite straight forward. There is also an element of paranoia here, which I suspect all propagandists have suffered from at some point.

9. Credibility, intelligence and the possible effects of communicating determine whether propaganda materials should be censored. Censorship does play a key role in propaganda and this relates to point 7, that it depends how believable the propaganda is.

10. Material from enemy propaganda may be utilized in operations when it helps diminish that enemy’s prestige or lends support to the propagandist’s own objective. To be able to turn the tables on the opposition is something that the propagandist would enjoy, it would be a bit like beating them at their own game. It also becomes quite powerful when using the enemy propaganda as it can be seen as being more authentic.

11. Black rather than white propaganda must be employed when the latter is less credible or produces undesirable effects. This again is a case that the end justifies the mean. If you have to tell a lie for the truth to be made more effective or believed, then black propaganda can be employed. It’s all about effectiveness of the message.

12. Propaganda may be facilitated by leaders with prestige. By having your popular leader as the sort of figure head of the propaganda, it becomes connected to the leader and so transfers some of their prestige to the propaganda.

13. Propaganda must be carefully timed. Just like the perfect moment, timing is all important, but he also stresses not to flood the citizen with too much propaganda or they become more wary of it.

14. Propaganda must label events and people with distinctive phrases or slogans. It seems that this is the beginning of the sound bite. Of a connection can be made between the event and a short phrase, it stays with the citizen longer than otherwise.

15. Propaganda to the home front must prevent the raising of false hope which can be blasted by future events. This again applies to considering that propaganda will have the desired effect and not over reach itself as this could let the propaganda slip and then be seen as false. People would end up with a lack of trust in the propaganda.

16. Propaganda to the home front must create an optimum anxiety level. Too much anxiety makes people too fearful to act and a lack of anxiety promotes inaction. This means then that there is balancing act that has to be maintained an managed to keep people alert but not overly fearful.

17. Propaganda to the home front must diminish the impact of frustration. If frustration is allowed to build through a lack of information then it will backfire and the propaganda wont be believed. So, the citizens need to be kept informed but in what the propagandist wants them to believe.

18. Propaganda must facilitate the displacement of aggression by specifying the targets for hatred. This is a diversionary tactic, especially if there is a build up of frustration. It also promotes nationalism and reinforces the “us and them” mentality.

19. Propaganda cannot immediately affect strong counter tendencies; instead it must offer some form of action or diversion, or both. The effect of propaganda is not immediate, instead it takes time to build a framework of propaganda, which can be manipulated by the propagandist and then believed by the citizen.

Overall, it seems that with propaganda you need to do a lot of thinking for the enemy in trying to double guess them. The most interesting principle in the list above is number 6, To be perceived, propaganda must evoke the interest of an audience and must be transmitted through an attention getting communications medium. This basically means that propaganda has to be presented in a way that is believable, understandable to the general public and to also be packaged in a way that is interesting and engaging with the citizens.

Yesterday I asked the question, what is propaganda and I think I am getting a clear concept. I considered whether the photograph of David Cameron and his family was propaganda and I asserted that it was mainly publicity. However, I know think that the image is more propaganda than publicity. Having reviewed the pints above I can see that the Cameron family photograph complies with points 2,6,7,12 and 13.

It also fits into the grander narrative of the photograph being part of compassionate conservatism and as pointed out yesterday, promotes the prime minister as just another ordinary guy (who is a millionaire running the country)

But am I any closer to having a working definition of propaganda? It seems that not only is the image involved and the connotation of the image, but also of how that information is delivered, these are the three legs that make the tripod of propaganda. Each is as important as the other, for instance if there is too much ambiguity between the image and the connotation, then the transition of the meaning of the propaganda to the citizen will be hampered, or if the image and connotation work well but the delivery is poor, then the propagandist message is not properly received.

So, in conclusion, propaganda can work, but it is a combination of elements rather than just one. With regard to the project, I already have the idea for the delivery system, I have a clear vision about the narrative of the photographs, all I need are the images.