When “propaganda” became “public relations”.

The spin doctors of the past are the institutionalized Public Relations Specialists of today, employed by government institutions and corporations to “put on a happy face”.

Yesterday, I listened to Trish Woods and Piers Robinson discuss the topic of propaganda, its history and evolution, and prevalence today. With a PhD in media studies and the book The CNN Effect: The Myth of News, Foreign Policy and Intervention to his credit, Robinson offered many fascinating insights into modern politics and culture. Trish Wood, a veteran investigative journalist and former host of CBC’s Fifth Estate, has experienced the profound shift in media reporting from inside its walls and from outside as a successful independent journalist.

I recommend this episode to Trish Wood Is Critical to anyone interested in propaganda. Piers helped me to connect the dots between older manifestations of propaganda, such as 1970s-style corporate advertising and state-owned media outlets like Pravda, and today’s Public Relations professionals.

Indeed, an online recruiting site, described the job of Public Relations Specialist. Robinson spoke of the vast presence of PR throughout our institutions. Trish brought her our stories to the discussion. I listened, gobsmacked by how a single profession has transformed our world one story at a time from behind a television camera, computer keyboard and/or a microphone.

Unseen by most of the consuming public, we swim in an ocean of PR creations like fish who are oblivious to how the water got there in the first place.

The media has become our “ocean of reality”. A fraternity and sorority of modern “spin doctors” work unobtrusively to ensure we view that reality through a lens of their making.

It has since occurred to me that Canada’s best known Public Relations person is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As a former Drama teacher, he has the appropriate training for the position. With nice hair, fancy socks and a famous dad, you could easily pick him out of a lineup of likely suspects as a top pick to do the deed. His ability to portray the Canadian government as the deep well of “free stuff” and the source of all utopian services the “keep Canadians safe” from alleged boogeymen leaves me with little doubt why he was hand-picked for the job by unseen rich and powerful men.

Piers Robinson PhD is propaganda expert who I am unlikely to forget. After listening to this discussion, he will likely stay on your radar too.