Disinformation and Propaganda Glossary

Propaganda is an old concept. The term was first used in 1622 by the Catholics on Congregatio de propaganda de fide (Congregation for the propagation of faith). It has been used in different ways, but nowadays, it is mostly associated with disinformation.

Jowett & O’Donnell's (2013: 7) definition: ”Propaganda is the deliberate and systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist.”

Authors distinguish between white, grey, and black propaganda. They can briefly be described as follows:

Black propaganda means intentional lies. This concept resembles Wardle's concept of disinformation, fabricated and manipulated content (more about Wardle on "disinformation").

Grey propaganda may contain correct facts, but the facts are framed och presented in a misleading way. This resembles some of Wardle's categories, but in Wardle's taxonomy misinformation is not intentional.

White propaganda is pretty much any kind of openly strategic communication, such as advertising, marketing, or well-meaning campaigns like "Stop smoking." Critics, however, point out that if anything can be classified as propaganda, the concept loses its meaning. Wardle doesn't include this type of content.

The point is that strategic communication can take many different forms and be used for many different purposes. Obvious lies are easier to detect than more subtle attempts to shape perceptions or behavior. Some attempts at persuasion may be positive (for example, health campaigns), and some negative (disinformation campaigns).

Jowett, G. S. & O'Donnell, V. (2013). Propaganda and Persuasion. Sage.

Wardle, C. (2018). The Need for Smarter Definitions and Practical, Timely Empirical Research on Information Disorder, Digital Journalism, 6:8, 951-963, DOI: 10.1080/21670811.2018.1502047.

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Term	Definition
Conspiracy theory	A is true. B is why the truth cannot be proven. So A is true. Make a statement. Then explain why it cannot be proven. Accuse anyone who challenges the second statement of trying to cover up the truth. Use this attempt as proof that the original statement is true. Examples: Flying saucers have landed. The government is covering it up, which is why there is no evidence about it. Of course they deny it! The senior managers in this company are bleeding it dry. But then they control the accounts, which is why finances seems to be healthy. This fallacy works by making it impossible to challenge the proving statement without proving it. The focus of attention is thus moved to the person trying to disprove the 'proof', and reframes their refutation as further proof. Synonyms - canceling hypotheses Read More ...
Cum hoc ergo propter hoc	The idea that "correlation implies causation" is an example of a questionable-cause logical fallacy, in which two events occurring together are taken to have established a cause-and-effect relationship. Examples: The faster that windmills are observed to rotate, the more wind is observed. Therefore, wind is caused by the rotation of windmills. Young children who sleep with the light on are much more likely to develop myopia in later life. Therefore, sleeping with the light on causes myopia. Since the 1950s, both the atmospheric CO2 level and obesity levels have increased sharply. Hence, atmospheric CO2 causes obesity. Synonyms - questionable cause, false cause

Term

Definition

Conspiracy theory

A is true. B is why the truth cannot be proven. So A is true.

Make a statement. Then explain why it cannot be proven. Accuse anyone who challenges the second statement of trying to cover up the truth. Use this attempt as proof that the original statement is true.

Examples:

Flying saucers have landed. The government is covering it up, which is why there is no evidence about it. Of course they deny it!
The senior managers in this company are bleeding it dry. But then they control the accounts, which is why finances seems to be healthy.

This fallacy works by making it impossible to challenge the proving statement without proving it. The focus of attention is thus moved to the person trying to disprove the 'proof', and reframes their refutation as further proof.

Synonyms - canceling hypotheses

Cum hoc ergo propter hoc

The idea that "correlation implies causation" is an example of a questionable-cause logical fallacy, in which two events occurring together are taken to have established a cause-and-effect relationship.

Examples:

The faster that windmills are observed to rotate, the more wind is observed.
Therefore, wind is caused by the rotation of windmills.
Young children who sleep with the light on are much more likely to develop myopia in later life.
Therefore, sleeping with the light on causes myopia.
Since the 1950s, both the atmospheric CO2 level and obesity levels have increased sharply.
Hence, atmospheric CO2 causes obesity.

Synonyms - questionable cause, false cause

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