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Spin (politics and public relations)

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In public relations (WP), spin is a form of (WP), 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 (WP) 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]

Post-9/11, the US government has expanded its use of spin, not just for minor news cycle manipulation, but larger scale policies, such as the use of torture in interrogating prisoners. As early as the 1990s, it had already moved away from Gerald Ford's prohibition on assassination, by using a Big Lie technique.


This article contains content from Wikipedia. Current versions of the GNU FDL article Spin (public relations) on WP may contain information useful to the improvement of this article WP

Techniques

The techniques of spin include:

  • Selectively presenting facts and quotes that support one's position (cherry picking)
  • Wikipedia:Non-denial denial
  • Phrasing in a way that assumes unproven truths (Wikipedia:Begging the question)
  • Euphemisms to disguise or promote one's agenda
  • Big Lies (WP) simply repeat a lie often, with the intention that it, the effort taken to oppose it, and those who believe it, together squelch dissent (trivial, but an example: US 'shock jock' Bill O'Reilly calling his show the "No Spin Zone", which is only true inasmuch as he is not clever enough to spin very often, instead relying more on browbeating and bludgeoning his 'opponents')[3]
  • "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.

Wikipedia: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.[4]

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 Wikipedia: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.[5] When this email was reported in the press it caused widespread outrage for which Moore was forced to apologize.[6] She was later made to resign when it was claimed she had sent a similar email following the death of Princess Margaret.[7]

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 public relations 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.[8]

State or corporate run media in many countries also engage in spin by only allowing news stories that favorable to the government and encouraging vigorous debate of trivial criticisms, while serious criticisms remain unmentionable (for example, by requiring Patriotic Correctness).

Euphemisms / Big Lies

Spin doctors

Skilled practitioners of spin began to be called "spin doctors" during the 1980s.[9] True or not, it once had the equivalent PR effect of calling a writer a "hack"; however, as so often happens, use of the term diluted its power, and it can even be a complimentary term, among less ethical political allies.

Edward Bernays was one of the earliest spin doctors.

Alastair Campbell, was involved with Tony Blair's public relations between 1994 and 2003 as his spin doctor (and also played a controversial role as press relations officer to the British and Irish Lions rugby union side during their 2005 tour of New Zealand). More recently Peter Mandelson & Alastair Campbell, have become widely regarded as the previous Government's "spin doctors".

Karl Rove, in the United States, has been working with the republicans and more exclusively the Bush family and is considered a spin doctor within the United States.

Peter Mandelson was one of the first people in Britain to whom the term "spin doctor" was applied; he was thus called 'the [[Prince of Darkness'[10][11] and, after his [[ennoblement, 'the Dark Lord', nicknames he apparently enjoys having.[12]


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. ↑ http://www.imaginaryplanet.net/weblogs/idiotprogrammer/2006/08/changing-no-spin-to-spin/
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ Sparrow, Andrew. "Sept 11: 'a good day to bury bad news,'" Telegraph (London). October 10, 2001.
  6. ↑ McSmith, Andy. "Sorry mess as Jo Moore makes her apology," Telegraph (London). October 17, 2001.
  7. ↑ Sparrow, Andrew. "'A good day' for No10 to bury Jo Moore's career," Telegraph (London). February 16,b 2002.
  8. ↑ "Just What Iraq Needs: More U.S. Propaganda," Los Angeles Times. April 18, 2007.
  9. ↑ http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/spin-doctor.html
  10. ↑ Grice, Andrew (21 April 2003). "Peter Mandelson: 'Prince of Darkness' who travels the world spreading the gospel for New Labour – Profiles, People". The Independent (UK). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/peter-mandelson-prince-of-darkness-who-travels-the-world-spreading-the-gospel-for-new-labour-595112.html. Retrieved 13 April 2010. </li>
  11. ↑ "UK | UK Politics | 'Prince of darkness' returns". BBC News. 12 October 1999. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/404194.stm. Retrieved 13 April 2010. </li>
  12. ↑ "SIGNED, 'THE DARK LORD'" Daily Mail, 1 May 2010.

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Bibliography

  • Roberts, Alasdair S., (2005). "Spin Control and Freedom of Information: Lessons for the United Kingdom from Canada," Public Administration, 83, 1–23.


External links

Template:Propaganda Template:Psychological manipulationscn:Spindoctor

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