Propaganda

I have never been a fan of propaganda. I know many nations, including the United States, practice it. I also know in many ways even smaller entities, such as corporations, organizations and even individuals, partake in this ever-so-tempting activity. We all want to be liked, supported, and thought of highly. But propaganda, in its rawest form, smacks too much of self-serving horn blowing that contributes to providing information to others that is overtly beneficial. It also can lead either to falsifying information about ourselves or, just as badly, distributing information that misleads others.

No question, a fine, fuzzy line exists between propagandizing and self-promotion. But propaganda smacks a bit too much of "spin," a relatively new descriptive term in communication circles that connotes exaggeration and false claims. One of the early pioneers of public relations, Ivy Lee, was on the right track when he created a "Declaration of Principles." In it, he called upon representatives to the media to share accurate information and do so in a straight forward and timely manner. Doing so enables the public to make their own judgments about what is being shared with them as opposed to being the subject of manipulation.

Establishing a solid reputation is and should be the result of honest words and deed, not manipulation in the form of propaganda or spin. At its best, communication fosters positive and mutually beneficial relationships and bonds. This cannot happen if either party is engaged in misleading behavior or trickery. Communicators take heed: do not perpetuate falsehoods. Do not be party to efforts to mislead. Do, on the other hand, communicate the virtues of your clients but only with honesty and openness.