Propaganda is the deliberate dissemination of information, ideas, or opinions to shape public perception and behavior in a particular way. Government mass media and propaganda have a long and controversial history. In many countries, the government has used mass media as a powerful tool to control public opinion and promote their own agenda. It is often used to promote a political or social agenda, and can be used for both positive and negative purposes. While government mass media and propaganda can be effective in shaping public opinion, they can also be used to manipulate and deceive people.

 

The media operates through 5 filters, 

1.) Media Ownership
Mass media firms are big corporations, often part of even bigger conglomerates whose end game is profit. So it’s in their interest to push for whatever guarantees profit. Critical journalism takes second place to the needs and interest of the corporation.

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2.) Advertising Money
Media costs a lot more than consumers would be willing to pay so advertisers fills this gap, paying for audiences. This is where you become the product that the media sell to the advertisers.

 
3.) The Media Elite
Governments, corporations and big institutions know how to play the media game, influencing the news narrative. Feeding media scoops, official accounts, “expert” interviews. Making themselves cruical to the process of journalism. So those in power and those who report on them need each other. If people such as whistle blowers, journalists or sources choose to challenge power or stray away from the consensus they will be pushed to the sidelines and their stories will be trashed. 

4.) Censorship
When the story goes against the narrative it becomes an inconvenience for the powers that be.This is where censorship comes in and the machine takes action, discrediting sources, trashing stories, canceling a voice and diverting the conversation.

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5.) The Common Enemy
To manufacture consent the machine needs an enemy or a target. Terrorists, communism, immigrants a pandemic. Having something to fear helps corral public opinion.

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It is important for citizens to be critical consumers of media and to seek out diverse sources of information in order to form their own opinions and make informed decisions.

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OUR CONSENT IS BEING MANUFACTURED AROUND US ALL OF THE TIME.