JANUARY 6-9 Propaganda Techniques Creating Propaganda Analyzing Propaganda.
Propaganda and Spin Overview NC Essential Standards for ... › files › 2012 › 05 ›...
Transcript of Propaganda and Spin Overview NC Essential Standards for ... › files › 2012 › 05 ›...
PropagandaandSpinOverviewInthislesson,studentsexplorepropagandatechniquesaswellastheconceptof“spin”anddiscusshowpoliticiansusethesetechniquestoswaypublicopinion.Studentswillidentifypropagandausedinpastandcurrentadsandcreatetheirownadvertisementusinganassignedpropagandatechnique.Studentswillalsoexaminehowpoliticiansspincurrenteventstosuittheirownagendasandwillassumetheroleofaprominentpoliticalfigure’scommunicationrepresentativewhoisresponsibleforspinningnewsevents.Grade10NCEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistory:TheFoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics• FP.C&G.2.8-AnalyzeAmerica’stwo-partysystemintermsofthepoliticalandeconomicviewsthatledtoits
emergenceandtherolethatpoliticalpartiesplayinAmericanpolitics(e.g.,Democrat,Republican,promotionofcivicresponsibility,Federalists,Anti-Federalists,Influenceofthirdparties,precincts,“thepoliticalspectrum”,straightticket,canvass,planks,platform,etc.)
• FP.C&G.4.3-AnalyzetherolesofcitizensofNorthCarolinaandtheUnitedStatesintermsofresponsibilities,participation,civiclifeandcriteriaformembershiporadmission(e.g.,voting,juryduty,lobbying,interactingsuccessfullywithgovernmentagencies,organizingandworkingincivicgroups,volunteering,petitioning,picketing,runningforpoliticaloffice,residency,etc.)
• FP.C&G.5.1-Analyzetheelectionprocessatthenational,stateandlocallevelsintermsofthechecksandbalancesprovidedbyqualificationsandproceduresforvoting(e.g.,civicparticipation,publichearings,forums,atlargevoting,petition,localinitiatives,localreferendums,votingamendments,typesofelections,etc.)
EssentialQuestions• Whatispropagandaandhowisitusedinpolitics?• Whatarethevariouspropagandatechniquesandhowdotheyaffectthedisseminationofinformation?• Whatisspinandinwhatwaystopoliticiansemploythistechnique?• Howdoesacandidate’spartyaffiliationandagendainformtheirpubliccomments?• Howdopropagandaandspinaffecttheelectionprocess?• Howdocitizensdecipherpropagandaandspininordertomakeaneducateddecisionwhenvoting?Materials:• ImagesofPropaganda,attached• JudgingPropaganda,worksheetattached• Politicalads(examplescanbefoundathttp://www.livingroomcandidate.org/)• AmericanPoliticalSpinCycleisOutofControl,articleattached• PutaPoliticalSpinonThings,assignmentsheet• Informationonpoliticalfigures;thiscanbeaccessedviainternetsitessuchashttp://ontheissues.org.If
internetisnotavailableforstudents,teacherscanpreselectpoliticalfiguresandprintoffinformationaboutthemtoprovidetostudents.
• Internetaccessforadditionalresearchonpoliticalfigures(optional)• SpinReflectionSheet,attached• Homeworkassignmentonspin,attached
DurationTwo60minuteperiodsProcedureDayOne
IdentifyingPropaganda1. Asawarm-up,writethewordpropagandaontheboardandaskstudentstobrainstormwhatthisword
means,eitherinsmallgroupsorasaclass.Encouragestudentstothinkaboutthedefinition,examples,situationsinwhichitisused,etc.
2. Afterthediscussion,studentsshouldunderstandthatpropagandareferstoatypeofmessageaimedatinfluencingopinionsand/orthebehaviorofpeople.Propagandamayprovideonlypartialinformationorbedeliberatelymisleading.Propagandatechniquesareoftenfoundontelevisionandradio,aswellasmagazinesandnewspapers.Projecttheattachedexamplesofpropagandaanddiscusswithstudents:• Whatdoyouthinkthepurposeofthisimageis?• Isthispropaganda?Whyorwhynot?Ifyes,whichpiecesofinformationregardingthesubjectofthe
imagearenotaddressed?• Whatmightwelearnaboutsocietybasedonthispieceofpropaganda?
3. Focusonexamplesofpropagandabyaskingstudentswhattypesofpropagandatechniquestheycanname.
Revieworintroducethefollowing:• Emotionalappeal(i.e.fear):Appealingtotheemotionsofyouraudience.Forexample,whena
propagandistwarnsmembersofheraudiencethatdisasterwillresultiftheydonotfollowaparticularcourseofaction,sheisusingfearappeal.
• Glitteringgeneralities:Aglitteringgeneralitydeviceseekstomakeusapproveandacceptwithoutexaminingtheevidence;Glitteringgeneralitiesincludephrasessuchas“Webelievein”,“fightfor”,and“livebyvirtue”.Theyalsoincludewordsaboutwhichwehavedeep-setideas,suchascivilization,Christianity,good,proper,right,democracy,patriotism,motherhood,fatherhood,science,medicine,health,andlove.
• Testimonials:Famouspeopleorfigureswhowillappeartrustworthyspeaktotheaudience• Bandwagon:Thebasicthemeofthebandwagonappealisthat"everyoneelseisdoingit,andsoshould
you."• Plain-folks:Byusingtheplain-folkstechnique,speakersattempttoconvincetheiraudiencethatthey,
andtheirideas,are"ofthepeople.”• Scientificapproach:Usingscientificjargon(i.e.numbers,statistics,data,etc.)toconvinceyouraudience• Snobappeal:Givingtheimpressionthatpeopleofwealthandprestigeareonboard• Cardstacking:Onlypresentingonesideoftheissue/situation• Transfer:Transferisadevicebywhichthepropagandistcarriesovertheauthority,sanction,andprestige
ofsomethingwerespectandreveretosomethinghewouldhaveusaccept.• Name-calling:Thename-callingtechniquelinksaperson,oridea,toanegativesymbol.Thepropagandist
whousesthistechniquehopesthattheaudiencewillrejectthepersonortheideaonthebasisofthenegativesymbol,insteadoflookingattheavailableevidence.
• Euphemisms:Thepropagandistattemptstopacifytheaudienceinordertomakeanunpleasantrealitymorepalatable.Thisisaccomplishedbyusingwordsthatareblandandeuphemistic.Anexampleisduringwartime,sincewarisparticularlyunpleasant,militarydiscourseisfullofeuphemisms.Inthe1940's,AmericachangedthenameoftheWarDepartmenttotheDepartmentofDefense.
4. PlacestudentsintosmallgroupsandhandouttheattachedKidsVotingworksheet,JudgingPropaganda.
Havestudentscompletethesheetintheirgroupsthengoovertheanswersasaclass:1.B 6.H2.E 7.C
3.A 8.F4.D 9.G5.J 10.I
5. Discuss:• Whyshouldweexamineadvertisements,campaigns,andvariousmediaformsingeneralforpropaganda?
Ispropagandaanegativetacticinyouropinion?Explain.o Discusshowpersuasivetechniquesareregularlyappliedbypoliticians,advertisers,editorialists,
radiopersonalities,andotherswhoareinterestedininfluencinghumanbehavior.Whilepropagandisticmessagescanbeusedtoaccomplishpositivesocialends,asincampaignstoreducedrunkdriving,theyarealsousedtowinelectionsandtosellproducts.Astechnologyincreases,peoplearereceivinghundredsofmessagesdailyviaInternet,TV,radio,news,etc.Thus,itisimportantwetakethetimetoanalyzewhatwearehearing/seeingtoensurewearefindingthekerneloftruth.
• Outofthetypesofpropagandafromtheworksheet,whichdoyouthinkismosteffectiveandwhy?Whichdoyouthinkmaybeusedtodisguisetruththeeasiest?
6. Ifpossible,playexamplesofpoliticaladsforstudentstoexamine.(Teacherscanrecordadsoffoftelevision,
orsearch“politicalads”onwww.youtube.comfornumerousexamples.ManyschooldistrictsblocktheuseofYouTube;teachersmightthuswanttosearchforadsathomeanddownloadthemforshowinglater.AnothersitetoconsultistheCenterforMediaandDemocracy’s“SpinoftheDayathttp://www.prwatch.org/.)Chooseseveraladstoplayforstudents,askingthemtonotewhichofthepropagandatechniquestheyseeillustratedineach.
UtilizeaPropagandaTechniquetoCreateanAdvertisement
7. Next,assigneachgrouponeofthepropagandatechniquesfromthehandout.Then,tellthegroupstocompletethefollowingassignment:• Youhavebeenassignedaparticularpropagandatechnique.Asagroup,createanadtopresenttoclass
usingthispropagandatechnique.YoumaycreateanadforTV,anadfortheradio,oravisualad(i.e.poster).
• ThepurposeoftheadistorecruitvotesforJerimiahJacobs,whoisrunningfortheNorthCarolinaStateSenate.
• YoumaybecreativeinthecontentyouprovideaboutJerimiah,butitmustbepresentedinawaythatutilizesyourpropagandatechnique.
• Bepreparedtopresentyouradtotheremainderofclassin15minutes!Ø Teachernote:Ifusingthisactivityduringanelectiontime,youmaywanttoassignstudentsarealpolitical
figuretocreateanadfor.Studentswouldthenneedtoresearchfactsaboutthatfigureandhis/herpoliticalvaluesandagendasothattheiradisrealistictothecandidatewhilestillutilizingtheassignedpropagandatechnique.
8. Oncestudentsarefinished,havethempresenttheiradtothereminderofclasswithoutsharingthe
propagandatechniquetheywereassigned.Aftereachpresentation,instructtherestofclasstoidentifywhichtechniquethegrouputilized.Discuss:• HowdidtheadsforJerimiahdiffer?• Ofalltheadsyouheard/sawtodayfromclassmates,whichadwouldmakeyoumostwanttovotefor
Jerimiahandwhy?• Whenpoliticiansarecampaigningduringelections,inwhatwaysdotheyutilizethetechniquesthatyou
justusedinyourownads?Howdothesepropagandatechniquesaffecttheelectionprocess?9. Forhomework,instructstudentstobringinanexampleofpropaganda.Studentsshouldexaminemagazines,
theInternet,orwatchTVandscanforexamplesthensummarizetheadexampleonnotebookpaper,classify
thetypeofpropagandausedinthead,andevaluateitseffectiveness.(Askstudentstobringincopiesoftheadsifpossible.)
Day2
Exploring“Spin”10. Asawarm-up,writethefollowingontheboardforstudentstoreadastheyenterclass:
• Asofnextmonth,allsnackmachinesarebeingremovedfromschoolpremises.11. Dividestudentsintosmallgroupsandtellthemtowriteashortblurbannouncingthisnewsintheschool
newspaperfromtheperspectiveofoneofthefollowinggroups(groupassignmentscanberepeatedifyouhavealargerclass):• Group1:Schooladministratorswhoaretiredofthesnackmachinesgettingknockedoverandvandalized• Group2:Studenthealthadvocacygroupcalled“MakingBetterChoices”• Group3:Studentathletes,whoraidthesnackmachinesdailywhenstarvingafterpractice• Group4:12thgraderswhocan’tleavecampusforlunchanddespisethecafeteriafood• Group5:Cheerleaderswhohavebeenadvocatingforlowcalorieandfat-freesnackstobeputinthe
vendingmachines• Group6:TheBoosterClub,whohasreliedontheproceedsfromthevendingmachinetofundathletics
(i.e.newuniforms,improvedfootballfield,etc.)12. Givestudents5-10minutestocompiletheirnewsblurbthenhaveeachgroupsharetheirblurbwithclass.
Discuss:• Inwhatwaysdidourblurbsdiffer?• Eventhoughwewereallrespondingtothesametopic,whydidourblurbsdiffer?(Theyweretoldfrom
peoplewithdifferingperspectivesandagendas)• Inwhatwaysdoesthishappeninthemediatoday?
13. Explaintostudentsthatwhennewsworthyeventsoccur,politiciansoftenutilize“spin”,whichisaheavily
biasedportrayalinone'sownfavorofaneventorsituation.Politicianswillprovidetheirpointofvieworinterpretationoftheeventinawaythatiscompatiblewiththeirownagendainanefforttoswaypublicopinion.Whiletraditionalpublicrelationsmayalsorelyoncreativepresentationofthefacts,"spin"often,thoughnotalways,impliesdisingenuous,deceptiveand/orhighlymanipulativetactics.Politiciansareoftenaccusedofspinbycommentatorsandpoliticalopponents,whentheyproduceacounterargumentorposition.
14. Givestudentsanotherscenariotoreporton,suchas:
• Thisyear,promwillnotbeheldontheschoolpremises.RatherthanaDJ,abandhasbeenhiredtoplay.Ticketpriceswillcost$50extra.
15. Again,intheirsmallgroups,studentswillwriteashortblurbfortheirtown’spaperregardingpromfromtheir
perspective:• Group1:ParentPromPlanningCommittee,wholikesthechangessincetheywanttomaketheproma
veryexclusive,high-classeventinhopesofattractingwealthierfamiliestotheschoolsystem.• Group2:“StudentsforStudents”,astudentleadgroupwhoisconcernedlesswealthystudentswillnot
beabletoattendpromduetothechanges.• Group3:Schooladministrators,whohopecutbackonpromcostwhilechargingmore;thiswillcreate
extrarevenueforupdatingthelibrarycollection.• Group4:“RockTill’YouDrop”,thebandthathasbeenhiredtoplaytheprom.Thisisyourfirstgigand
youhopeitwillbethestartofabiglocalcareer.• Group5:“DJJazzyJakeandCompany”,theDJwhowasnotrehiredtoplaythisyear’sprom.
16. Afterafewminutes,againhavestudentssharetheirblurbsanddiscuss:• Howdidnewsofthesameeventchangewhengivenbypeoplewithdifferentagendas?• Canyouthinkofanyevents,eithercurrentorhistorical,thathavebeen‘spun’bypoliticians?• Isitethicaltospinasituationinone’sfavor,ortowardsone’sownagenda?• Whendealingwithpolitics,doyouthinkitispossibletosaysomethingneutralaboutapoliticalsituation?
17. HandouttheattachedopinionarticleAmericanPoliticalSpinCycleisOutofControl.(Whilethearticleisfrom
2001,itssubjectmaintainsrelevance.)Afterstudentshaveread,discussasaclass:• LauraWeissstates,“Whatpoliticianswriteandsaydizziesthepublic’smindonagrandscale”andthat
spinhasgotten“outofcontrol.”Doyouagreeordisagreeandwhy?• Howcanpoliticalspinbedeceiving?• WhydoyouthinkWeisscallstheWhiteHouse(regardlessofthepartyinpower)“America’slargestspin
producinginstitution”?• Whoisresponsibleforuncoveringthevalidityorunderlyingtruth(ifany)beneathspin?• WeisssaysthattheWhiteHouseattemptstokeep“scandalousnews”frombreakingontheTV.Isthisa
violationoffreedomofthepressinyouropinion?Shouldtherebelimitationstowhatthepresscanreporton?Explain.
• Whatcanthepublicdoregardingcampaignspin?
PracticingPoliticalSpin18. Havestudentsbrainstormrecenteventsthathavebeeninthelocal,nationaland/orinternationalnewsthat
theythinkareverysusceptibletospin.Then,dividetheclassintosmallgroups,assigningeachgroupacurrentpoliticalfigure.Examplesmightincludeprominentmembersofgovernment,presidentialcandidates(ifduringanelectionyear),politicalpundits,etc.Givethegrouptheattachedassignmentexplanation,PutaPoliticalSpinonThings.Goovertheassignmentsheettogether,whichexplainstostudentsthattheyaretoimaginetheyaretheirassignedpolitician’scommunicationsteam.Theymustfirstresearchtheviewsofthepoliticalfigureassignedtothem.StudentswillneedcomputerswithInternetaccess;sitessuchashttp://ontheissues.orgwillhelpstudentsunderstandtheviewsandvotingrecordsofpoliticians.Otherwise,teacherscanprintinformationoffandprovidetostudentsinhandoutform.Oncestudentshavefamiliarizedthemselveswiththepoliticalfigure,theyareresponsibleforspinningarecentnewsevent.(TheexampleprovidedinvolvesaconflictwithAlQaeda,butteacherscansubstitutetheexampleforstudentstospinastheyseefit.)
19. Allowstudentstoaskquestionstheninstructthemtoworkontheirstatement.Aftergroupsarefinished,
bringeveryonebacktogetherandgiveeachstudenttheattachedSpinReflectionSheet.Haveeachgrouppresenttheirwork,firstgivingasummaryofwhotheyworkfor(thepoliticalfigureassignedtothem),theirfigure’spoliticalparty,andthefigure’sviews/politicalagenda.Then,groupsshouldsharetheirstatementsthathavebeenpreparedwithspin.Allstudentsshouldtakenotesontheirreflectionsheetastheylistentoeachgroup’spresentation.Afterallstudenthavepresented,discuss:• Whatwerethemajordifferencesbetweenthetalkingpointsofpoliticalfigures?Didtheirpartyaffiliation
makeadifference?Explain.• Whatmakesasuccessful“spin”?• Foranygivenevent,isthereasingletruthaboutwhathappenedordoesitalwaysdependonwhois
tellingthestoryandhowtheytellit?Explain.• Isspindeceitfulinyouropinion?Isitpossibletoeradicatespin?Explain.• Howdoesacandidate’spoliticalagendaasconnectedtotheirparty,andthewayhe/shecommunicates,
shapeourpoliticalsystem?• Doyouusespinwhendiscussingeventsinyourownlife?Ifso,inwhatwaysandwhy?• Ifyouwereapolitician,isthereanythingthatyouwouldconsidertobeoff-limitstospin?Whyorwhy
not?
• Asresponsiblecitizens,howdowemakeaneducateddecisiononwhichcandidatetovoteforwhenthereissomuchspinandpropagandaatplay?Whatquestionsdoweneedtoaskourselveswhenviewing,hearing,andreadingcampaignadsorcandidateresponseblurbs?
20. AssigntheattachedhomeworkassignmentinwhichstudentsrespondtoLeonE.Panetta’sopinionofspinand
howitisaffectingAmerica.
WorldWarIIPropagandaPosters
ModernAdvertisement
PoliticalSpinCycleIsOutofControlbyLauraB.Weiss,TheDailyUtahChronicle,September10,2001
It’shere.It’sleachedintothewrittenandspokenwordsofourculture.Ithasinvadedourtelevisionsetsintheformofasitcom.IthaseventakenoveranentireroomatCNN.It’sspin—thepracticeofmanipulatingthefactstoprofitthepoliticianandallaypublicconcern.
Politicalspinningcomesnaturallytohumans.Thefirstcaveman,insteadofgoingfishingfordinner,wentintotheforestanddownedafewsweetnectarswithhiscomrades.However,whenhecamebackfromthe"river,"thefirstcavewomandidnotbanishhimtothepre-historicdoghouse.Why?Hesaidhegavetonight’scatch(thatwasTHISbig)toIgorinthenextcaveover.Igor,heexplained,wastoodecrepittofish.Nowweallsigh—thefirstcavemanwasalsothefirstphilanthropist—orthefirstspindoctor.Butwhocanblamehim?Spinreservedhimawarmplaceinthecavethatnightandmaintained,ifnotimproved,hisimageintheeyesofthefirstcavewoman.Themanipulationtakingplaceontoday’spoliticalstageemulatesthisprehistoricnarration.Whatpoliticianswriteandsaydizziesthepublic’smindonagrandscale.Spin,apracticethatpublic-relationconsultantsusetocontrolpublicperception,has,itself,gottenoutofcontrol.Caseinpoint:theWhiteHouse,America’slargestspin-producinginstitution.Theveneratedestablishmentplaysgeneroushosttoateamofperception-savvyspindoctors.Thispublicopinionposseperformsdamagecontrolonsubjectsrangingfromtheadministration’sfund-raisingengagementsandpersonalhealthtojudicialappointmentsandloveaffairs.
InhisAug.9addresstothenation,PresidentGeorgeW.Bushtriedouthisownhandatspinning,assuringtheAmericanpeoplethat"60stem-celllines"exist.Theselines,heextolled,"havegreatpromise."Purseyourlipsandfurlyoureyebrows,Mr.President,becausescienceisn’taseasytospinasyouthink—especiallywiththenationwatching.
OnAug.17,solidobjectionsemergedfromtheworld’slargest(over138,000members)allianceofscientists.TheAmericanAssociationfortheAdvancementofSciencecalledforBushtoimmediatelyidentifythe60linesheclaimedwereavailableforfederallyfundedresearch.Untilthisinformationisverified,thestatementsaid,itisimpossibleto"assessthepotentialvaluesofthecellsforresearchandpotentialmedicaladvances."Othersaren’tswallowingBush’sspineither.Severalnationalfigures,includingRep.DianaDeGette(D-Colo.)andSen.EdwardKennedy(D-Mass.)havewrittenletterstoHealthandHumanServicesSecretaryTommyThomsonandleadersattheNationalInstituteofHealth(NIH),respectively.DeGetteoutlined10questionsonthespecificconditionandownershipofthestem-celllines.KennedydemandedaresponsefromNIHregardingsimilarconcerns.DuringClinton’spresidency,spin-doctorsmadeOlympianadvancesinevadingthestraighttruth,"bychidingthepress,browbeatingreporters,referringinquiriestolawyerswhowillnotcommentorjustplainchangingthesubject,"saidWashingtonPostmediacriticHowardKurtz.Bushcannoteschewthestemcell60lineconundrumwithsuchanachronistictechniques.EvenwithanentireWhiteHouseoffice—theDepartmentofCommunication—dedicatedtoproducingandmanagingspin,Bushcannotevadethevalidityofscientists’concerns.Untiltheexistenceofall60stem-celllinesisconfirmed,itlooksasifBushhasspunhimselfanexcruciatinglytangledweb.Spinningevenitsownmoniker,theWhiteHouse’sDepartmentofCommunicationhasbeenworkingdoubletime
overthepastdecadetodevelopnewspinstrategies.Inthisageofever-proliferatingpeeping-Tomcoverage,reportersclimbover,drillholesthroughandgenerallydestroytraditionalreportingroadblocks.However,theSpinOffice,Imean,CommunicationOffice,hasdevelopedfail-safetacticsthateffectivelykeepthecorkonnewstheWhiteHousedoesn’twantreporterstouse.
Forinstance,WhiteHousespinnersdon’tallowscandalousstoriestobreakonthetelevision.Bynotconfirmingthevalidityofastoryuntilthereporter’sdeadlinepasses,pressaidshavealmostcompletereignoverinformation.Ifreporterschoosetoairthestoryanyway,theyrisktheirentireprofessionalcareer.What’sunfortunateisthat,fordecades,theWhiteHousehaslassoedtypicallytrustedfiguresintotheirspinsavvycorral.TheWhiteHousehascourtedphysiciansinordertoconvincethepublicofthephysicalwellbeingofournation’shighestrankingrepresentatives.
Foroveradecade,FranklinDelanoRoosevelt,withtheaidofdoctorsandthesecretservice,spunhisparalysis.ThespinteammaskedtheseverityofFDR’sdisabilityfrommillionsofpotentialvoterswithdeceptivestatementsabouthishealth,inadditiontotallpodiumswithcamouflagedrailingstocreateamirageofFDR’smobility.Herelied,literally,onfamilyandfriendsforsupportwhileapproachingvenuesandposingforphotographs.Unfortunately,spin-doctorshavenotdoneaswellinconcealingtheseverityofVicePresidentDickCheney’shealthproblems.Earlyinthepresidentialrace,theBushcampaignprovidedthepresswithawell-editedreportofCheney’smedicalhistory.However,somethings—likethreeheartattacksbeforetheageoffifty—justcan’tsuccessfullybespun.Norcancheckingintoahospitalfor,whatBushdescribedas"mildchestpains,"but"notaheartattack.”Helaterretractedthisstatement,addingthatitwasa"veryslightheartattack."Theproblemwithourspinnationisthis:Intheprocessofourgovernmenttellingtheworldwhitelies,we,asasocietyarenotonlyfrequentlyfooledbywhatwereadbutarealso,albeitindirectly,sanctionedbythegovernmenttotellourownwhitelies.SpinteachesmethattaxevasionisOK.WhentheInternalRevenueServicecomespoundingatmydoor,allI’vegottodoisspinmystory.InsteadofadmittingIdidn’tpaytaxes,I’lljustsayImadea"veryslightmiscalculation."IfslipperysemanticsworkforourrepresentativesinWashington,theyworkforme.Whenitcomestoissuesliketheenvironment,theCommunicationsOfficeneeds,insteadofglossingoverthethreateningglobalsituationwith30-secondnewsclipsofthepresidentdressedinnaturaltoneshelpingforestrangersinColorado,togiveittousstraight.Thepresidentwantstobreaktheenvironmentandtakeitforabigbusinessride,andmostofAmericaknowsthatalready.InaleakedWhiteHousememo,EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyAdministratorChristieWhitmanofferedheradvicetoPresidentBushonglobalwarming,asserting,"weneedtoappearengaged."Whatabrillianttactic—spinitlikewecareabouttheenvironment(insteadofaboutpollnumbers)thenleavetheearthtopillagers.Bushhimselfthrowsoutvague,meaninglessphraseswhencontemplatingthesubject.Hisrecentbestis:"Ideeplycareabouttheenvironment."Inhisstem-cellresearchaddress,healsousedthisambiguousgem,professingtohave"madethedecisionwithgreatcare."Atthisrate,perhapsBushwillbeginto"deeply"and"greatlycare"aboutthe42percent(ascalculatedby“U.S.NewsandWorldReport”)ofhistimeinofficespentenroutetooronvacation.Justtrytospinthatone.Source:http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2001/09/10/Opinion/American.Political.Spin.Cycle.Is.Out.Of.Control-91040.shtml
PutaPoliticalSpinonThings!• Yourgrouphasbeenhiredasthecommunicationsteamfortheprominentpoliticalfigureassignedtoyou.• Asnewemployees,youmustfirstlearnabouttheviewsandpoliticalagendaofyourpoliticianbyreadingthe
informationprovided.• Paycloseattentiontothisperson’spoliticalparty,currentandpastpositions,andhis/herfundamental
politicalbeliefs,and/oragenda.Together,discussandsummarizethisinformationandbepreparedtopresentittoyourclassmates.
• Onceyouarefamiliarwiththisfigure’spoliticalperspective,yourfirstpublicrelationsassignmentisto
commentontheongoingwarinIraqfromyourpolitician’sperspective.Createa5-10sentencestatementthat“spins”thefollowingsituationinawaythatencompassesyourfigurespointofviewandsupportshis/herpoliticalagenda:
FiveAmericansoldierswerekilledandninewerewoundedinactionduringabattlewithAlQaedainBaghdadyesterday.
• Remember,thespinyouputonthestatementsyoumaketothepressonbehalfofyourpoliticianemployerwilleffecthis/herstatusinthepubliceyeandcouldpossiblyaffecthis/herelectionorreelection.Thus,thisaffectsyourfutureemployment!
• Youwillpresentyourworktoclassinapproximately20minutes.Youmustbepreparedtogiveasummaryof
yourassignedpoliticalfigure(akayourcurrentemployer)andthenshareyourspinstatements.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PutaPoliticalSpinonThings!• Yourgrouphasbeenhiredasthecommunicationsteamfortheprominentpoliticalfigureassignedtoyou.• Asnewemployees,youmustfirstlearnabouttheviewsandpoliticalagendaofyourpoliticianbyreadingthe
informationprovided.• Paycloseattentiontothisperson’spoliticalparty,currentandpastpositions,andhis/herfundamental
politicalbeliefs,and/oragenda.Together,discussandsummarizethisinformationandbepreparedtopresentittoyourclassmates.
• Onceyouarefamiliarwiththisfigure’spoliticalperspective,yourfirstpublicrelationsassignmentisto
commentontheongoingwarinIraqfromyourpolitician’sperspective.Createa5-10sentencestatementthat“spins”thefollowingsituationinawaythatencompassesyourfigurespointofviewandsupportshis/herpoliticalagenda:
FiveAmericansoldierswerekilledandninewerewoundedinactionduringabattlewithAlQaedainBaghdadyesterday.
• Remember,thespinyouputonthestatementsyoumaketothepressonbehalfofyourpoliticianemployerwilleffecthis/herstatusinthepubliceyeandcouldpossiblyaffecthis/herelectionorreelection.Thus,thisaffectsyourfutureemployment!
• Youwillpresentyourworktoclassinapproximately20minutes.Youmustbepreparedtogiveasummaryof
yourassignedpoliticalfigure(akayourcurrentemployer)andthenshareyourspinstatements.
SpinReflectionChartPoliticalFigure PartyAffiliation Beliefs/AgendaSummary
Name:_________________________________Homework
ReadthefollowingexcerptfromLeonPanetta’sarticleThePriceof‘Spin’Versusthe‘Truth’andanswerthequestionsthatfollow.
HueyLong—theinfamousLouisianapoliticianoftheThirties—oncepromisedacertainconstituencyinanelectioncampaignthathewoulddeliverapublicworksprojecttothemifelected.Whenhefailedtodelivertheprojectafterhewaselected,hewasaskedwhy.Hisreply:"Ilied!"
Long'sadmissionwasbrutallyfrank.ItwasthekindofhonestythatworkedwellforLong.Whyisitsodifficulttoworkformanyofthoseinpublicofficetoday?
Thetypicalstrategyistotellpeoplewhatconsultantsandpollsterssaythepublicwantstohearandwhenthefactsprovedifferently,tokeeprepeatingthesamewordsinthehopethatrepetitionsomehowwillmakeitright.Butthereisaterriblepricetobepaidforthispolitical"spin"game—thelosttrustofthepeople…
Asourparentsdid,wetrytoteachourchildrentobetruthful.Ourverydemocracyisdependentonastrongrelationshipoftrustbetweenthepeopleandtheirleaders.Butinrecentyears,whetherbecauseoflostvaluesortheeaseandspeedofmoderncommunications,abadexampleisbeingsetforfuturegenerationsbythosewhotellpeoplethepoliticalmessageratherthanwhatisreallyhappening.
Thismayprovidesomeshort-termpoliticalgains,butultimately,thenationpaysaterribleprice.HueyLongdecidedtotellthesimpletruthwhenhesaidheliedinhiscampaign.Itmightjustbethattellingthesimpletruthcanworktorestorebothourpoliticsandourdemocracy.Lordknows,it'sworthatry.FromThePriceof'Spin'Versusthe"Truth”byLeonE.Panetta,TheMontereyCountyHerald,September9,2001http://www.panettainstitute.org/Commentaries/090901.htmRespondwithyourthoughtsbelow(usethebackifnecessary):1.Panettasays,“…honesty…workedwellforLong.Whyisitsodifficulttoworkformanyofthoseinpublicofficetoday?”Doyouagreethatmanypeopleinpublicofficearedishonest?Whydoyouthinkpublicofficialsfinditdifficulttobehonest?2.DoyouagreewithPanettawhenhesaysthatduetothe“spingame”,thepeoplehavelosttrustingovernmentandpolitics?Why?Whatevidencemakesyouthinkthis?3.Panettaalsostates,“…abadmessageisbeingsetforfuturegenerationsbythosewhotellpeoplethepoliticalmessageratherthanwhatisreallyhappening.”Howdoyouinterpretthiscomment?Doyouagreeordisagree?Explain.4.“This[spin]mayprovidesomeshort-termpoliticalgains,butultimately,thenationpaysaterribleprice.”WhatpricedoyouthinkPanettaisimplying?