Public Opinion Public Opinion Public opinion is the

Public Opinion

Public Opinion Public opinion is the collection of differing attitudes that members of a public have about a particular issue. – Subject to rapid change – People seeking elected office pay much attention to public opinion.

Propaganda Politicians, interest groups, and businesses pay billions of dollars to influence the public using seven types of propaganda or advertising: • Testimonials • Transfer • Bandwagon • Name-calling • Plain-folks • Glittering generalities • Card stacking

Propaganda Techniques • Testimonials • Use of endorsements by people. (ex. Sports heroes) • People transfer their adoration for a celebrity to the products or candidates • Transfer • Associates the product or candidate with something that the public approves or respects (ex. American flag) • Can be used negatively with something the public dislikes. • Bandwagon • Appeals to public’s desires to conform • Used when people want to be in the winning side.

Propaganda Techniques • Name-calling • Negative labels or images against the competitor (ex. Reckless, uncaring) • Plain-folks • Appeal to the average American. • Using people we can identify with. (ex. Hard-workers) • Glittering Generalities • Using words that sound positive but have little meaning. • Ex. Belief in freedom, democracy, etc. • Card Stacking • Presenting facts in a way that places products in a favorable light. • Presents statistics or surveys that favor them.