Spin (public relations)

Spin (public relations)

In public relations, spin is a form of propaganda, achieved through providing an interpretation of an event or campaign to persuade public opinion in favor or against a certain organization or public figure. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics.[1]

Politicians are often accused by their opponents of claiming to be honest and seek the truth while using spin tactics to manipulate public opinion. Because of the frequent association between "spin" and press conferences (especially government press conferences), the room in which these take place is sometimes described as a spin room. A group of people who develop spin may be referred to as "spin doctors" who engage in "spin doctoring" for the person or group that hired them.[2]

Contents

Techniques

The techniques of spin include:

  • Selectively presenting facts and quotes that support one's position (cherry picking)
  • Non-denial denial
  • Phrasing in a way that assumes unproven truths
  • Euphemisms to disguise or promote one's agenda
  • "Burying bad news": announcing one popular thing at the same time as several unpopular things, hoping that the media will focus on the popular one.

Edward Bernays has been called the "Father of Spin". Larry Tye describes in his book, "The Father of Spin: Edward L. Bernays & The Birth of PR", some situations in twentieth-century America where tobacco and alcohol companies used techniques to make certain behaviors more socially acceptable. Bernays was proud of his work as a propagandist.[3]

For years businesses have used fake or misleading "customer testimonials" by editing/spinning a customers clients to reflect a much more satisfied experience than was actually the case. In 2009 the FTC updated their laws to include measures to prohibit this type of 'spinning' and have been enforcing these laws as of late. Additionally, over the past 5-6 years several companies have arisen that verify the authenticity of the testimonials businesses present on the marketing materials in an effort to convince one to become a customer.

Another spin technique involves the delay in the release of bad news so it can be hidden in the "shadow" of more important or favorable news or events. A famous reference to this practice occurred when UK government press officer Jo Moore used the phrase It's now a very good day to get out anything we want to bury in an email sent on September 11, 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center.[4] When this email was reported in the press it caused widespread outrage for which Moore was forced to apologize.[5] She was later made to resign when it was claimed she had sent a similar email following the death of Princess Margaret.[6]

In the United States public affairs dealing with military contacts during the beginning of the War in Iraq used a spin tactic. Several parts of U.S. military wanted to hire PR firms to send out fabricated or misleading information to get a rise in the public approval of the war. Some officials did not want to join information officers with public affairs officers for the fear of undermining the military's credibility. This form of spin uses the tactic of blowing small circumstances out of proportion to get a certain reaction from the public.[7]

Fictional spin doctors

See also

References

  1. ^ Safire, William. "The Spinner Spun," New York Times. December 22, 1996.
  2. ^ Michael, Powell. "Tit for Tat on a Night Where Spin Is Master," New York Times. February 22, 2008.
  3. ^ Stauber, John and Sheldon Rampton. "Book Review: The Father of Spin: Edward L. Bernays & The Birth of PR by Larry Tye," PR Watch (Second Quarter 1999). Vol. 6, No. 2.
  4. ^ Sparrow, Andrew. "Sept 11: 'a good day to bury bad news,'" Telegraph (London). October 10, 2001.
  5. ^ McSmith, Andy. "Sorry mess as Jo Moore makes her apology," Telegraph (London). October 17, 2001.
  6. ^ Sparrow, Andrew. "'A good day' for No10 to bury Jo Moore's career," Telegraph (London). February 16,b 2002.
  7. ^ "Just What Iraq Needs: More U.S. Propaganda," Los Angeles Times. April 18, 2007.

Bibliography

  • Roberts, Alasdair S. (2005). "Spin Control and Freedom of Information: Lessons for the United Kingdom from Canada". Public Administration 83: 1–23. doi:10.1111/j.0033-3298.2005.00435.x. 

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Public relations — Journalism News · Writing style Ethics · Objectivity Values · …   Wikipedia

  • Public Relations — Öffentlichkeitsarbeit (auch: Public Relations [ˌpʌblɪk rɪˈleɪʃənz], PR) bezeichnet: einen weit gefassten Begriff für die Gestaltung der öffentlichen Kommunikation von Organisationen, Unternehmen, Behörden, Ideen oder Einzelpersonen ein in einem… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Public Relations (Arrested Development episode) — Infobox Arrested Development episode episode name = Public Relations episode no = 1AJD10 airdate = January 25, 2004 writer = Courtney Lilly director = Lee Shallat Chemel on the next = “G.O.B. holds a press conference of his own, and Buster moves… …   Wikipedia

  • Public Relations - PR — The act of communicating with the public. Although not inherent in the definition, public relations, or PR for short, is often thought of as spin, with the goal being to present the person, company or event in the best light possible. Most major… …   Investment dictionary

  • List of topics related to public relations and propaganda — * Ad Council * Agenda setting theory * Al Fateh * America s Army , video game produced by the U.S. government with the stated aim of encouraging players to become interested in joining the U.S. Army. * Astroturfing / Astroturf PR; fake grassroots …   Wikipedia

  • public relations person — noun a person employed to establish and promote a favorable relationship with the public • Hypernyms: ↑person, ↑individual, ↑someone, ↑somebody, ↑mortal, ↑soul • Hyponyms: ↑spin doctor, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • Spin — may refer to:* Rotation or spin, a movement of an object in a circular motion * Spin (physics) or particle spin, a fundamental property of elementary particles * Spin (flight), a special and often intense case of a stall * Spin (public relations) …   Wikipedia

  • Spin-Doctor — ist eine aus dem Englischen übernommene Bezeichnung für einen Medien , Image oder politischen Berater und Verantwortlichen für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit. Die Bezeichnung wird von den Massenmedien besonders im Bereich der Politik benutzt und hat einen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spin-Doctoring — Spin Doctor ist eine aus dem Englischen übernommene Bezeichnung für einen Medien , Image oder politischen Berater und Verantwortlichen für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit. Die Bezeichnung wird von den Massenmedien besonders im Bereich der Politik benutzt… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Spin Doctor — ist eine aus dem Englischen übernommene Bezeichnung für einen Medien , Image oder politischen Berater und Verantwortlichen für Öffentlichkeitsarbeit. Die Bezeichnung wird von den Massenmedien besonders im Bereich der Politik benutzt und hat einen …   Deutsch Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”