Spin (propaganda)

<h2 id="history">History</h2>

<h3>Rise of political spin</h3>
<a href="/facts/Edward_Bernays/m1CeI3Yl">Edward Bernays</a> has been called the "Father of Public Relations". Bernays helped <a href="/facts/Tobacco/bTD4RUPQ">tobacco</a> and <a href="/facts/Alcohol_(drug)/IeK2fVd5">alcohol</a> companies make consumption of their products more socially acceptable, and he was proud of his work as a propagandist.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a> Throughout the 1990s, the use of spin by politicians and parties accelerated, especially in the <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">United Kingdom</a>; the emergence of 24-hour news increased pressures placed upon journalists to provide nonstop content, which was further intensified by the competitive nature of British broadcasters and newspapers, and content quality declined due to 24-hour news' and political parties' techniques for handling the increased demand.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a> This led to journalists relying more heavily on the public relations industry as a source for stories, and advertising revenue as a profit source, making them more susceptible to spin.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a>
Spin in the United Kingdom began to break down with the high-profile resignations of the architects of spin within the <a href="/facts/New_Labour/e7TMyfez">New Labour</a> government, with <a href="/facts/Charlie_Whelan/0778quN1">Charlie Whelan</a> resigning as <a href="/facts/Gordon_Brown/kG8lHq8C">Gordon Brown</a>'s spokesman in 1999 and <a href="/facts/Alastair_Campbell/szXypH72">Alastair Campbell</a> resigning as <a href="/facts/Tony_Blair/3oytaWsP">Tony Blair</a>'s Press Secretary in 2003.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a> As information technology has increased since the end of the 20th century, commentators like <a href="/facts/Joe_Trippi/FJ6qCtFm">Joe Trippi</a> have advanced the theory that modern <a href="/facts/Internet_activism/n8wzzxom">Internet activism</a> spells the end for political spin, in that the Internet may reduce the effectiveness of spin by providing immediate counterpoints.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9">9</a>

<h3>Examples of spin doctors</h3>
Spin doctors can either command media attention or remain anonymous. Examples from the UK include <a href="/facts/Jamie_Shea/6uPpjk9n">Jamie Shea</a> during his time as <a href="/facts/NATO/dCeTddMY">NATO</a>'s press secretary throughout the <a href="/facts/Kosovo_War/54xPuVXC">Kosovo War</a>, Charlie Whelan, and Alastair Campbell.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10">10</a>
Campbell, previously a journalist before becoming Tony Blair's Press Secretary, was the driving force behind a government that was able to produce the message it wanted in the media. He played a key role in important decisions, with advisors viewing him as a 'Deputy Prime Minister' inseparable from Blair.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11">11</a> Campbell identifies how he was able to spin <a href="/facts/Rupert_Murdoch/KE5e3wCG">Rupert Murdoch</a>, during a meeting in July 1995, into positively reporting an upcoming Blair speech, gathering the support from <a href="/facts/The_Sun_(United_Kingdom)/8kowGFRx">The Sun</a> and <a href="/facts/The_Times/5BwkodnX">The Times</a>, popular British newspapers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12">12</a> Campbell later acknowledged that his and the government's spinning had contributed to the electorate's growing distrust of politicians, and he asserted that spin must cease.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13">13</a>
"Spin doctors" such as Shea praised and respected Campbell's work. In 1999, during the beginning of NATO's intervention in Kosovo, Shea's media strategy was non-existent before the arrival of Campbell and his team. Campbell taught Shea how to organise his team to deliver what he wanted to be in the media, which led to Shea being appreciated for his work by President <a href="/facts/Bill_Clinton/x5mwYkVh">Bill Clinton</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14">14</a>

<h2 id="techniques">Techniques</h2>
Some spin techniques include:

<ul><li>Selectively presenting facts and quotes that support one's position ("<a href="/facts/Cherry_picking_(fallacy)/DBq2DMaK">cherry picking</a>"). For example, a pharmaceutical company could choose only two trials where their product shows a positive effect and ignore hundreds of unsuccessful trials, or a politician's staff could handpick short speech quotations from past years which appear to show their candidate's support for a certain position.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Non-denial_denial/TxoVloVj">Non-denial denial</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Non-apology_apology/zo3Nttdc">Non-apology apology</a></li>
<li>"<a href="/facts/Mistakes_were_made/XH04BIBB">Mistakes were made</a>" is an example of <a href="/facts/Distancing_language/zlh3PYez">distancing language</a>, commonly used as a rhetorical device, whereby a speaker acknowledges that a situation was managed inappropriately but evades any direct responsibility. The expression focuses on the action, omitting any actor, via the <a href="/facts/English_passive_voice/CAq2o4fr">passive voice</a>, and "mistakes" are framed in an indirect sense that does not imply intent. A less evasive <a href="/facts/Active_voice/JlJ4yevg">active voice</a> construction would focus on the actor, such as: "I made mistakes" or "John Doe made mistakes."</li>
<li>Speaking in a way that <a href="/facts/Begging_the_question/9mLtpPU9">assumes unproven claims</a> or <a href="/facts/Avoiding_the_question/g3DnAk9m">avoids the question</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15">15</a></li>
<li>"Burying bad news": announcing unpopular things when the media is expected to be focusing on other news. In some cases, governments have released potentially controversial reports on summer long weekends. Sometimes "other news" is deliberately supplied.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16">16</a></li>
<li>Misdirection and diversion<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17">17</a> This is when a government leaks a story to the news to limit the coverage of a more damaging story that has been circulating. New Labour used this tactic to reduce the coverage of Foreign Secretary <a href="/facts/Robin_Cook/FGTQJ7NK">Robin Cook</a>’s affair. This was achieved by leaking a story that a previous Governor of Hong Kong was under investigation by MI6.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18">18</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Limited_hangout/JsUxwWz5">Limited hangout</a></li>
<li>Rewarding like-minded or amenable journalists with stories. During the <a href="/facts/Rhodesia_crisis/JHQJpmdj">Rhodesia crisis</a> of 1964, <a href="/facts/Harold_Wilson/0CU8qKJ4">Harold Wilson</a> formulated a list of journalists that he trusted to write stories that aligned with the government’s opinion.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19">19</a></li>
<li>Preventing access to journalists or broadcasters that are reporting to the disliking of the spin doctor. An example is <a href="/facts/The_World_at_One/qu5Wec3u">the World at One</a> being ignored by New Labour in the build up to the <a href="/facts/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election/4xX3KbPw">1997 General election</a> due to an interview they held with Blair that asked difficult questions, leading to interviews being handed to other stations.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20">20</a></li></ul>
For years, businesses have used fake or misleading <a href="/facts/Testimonial/Fz9udWsr">customer testimonials</a> by editing/spinning customers to reflect a much more satisfied experience than was actually the case. In 2009, the <a href="/facts/Federal_Trade_Commission/Hkz0PwF9">Federal Trade Commission</a> updated their laws to include measures to prohibit this type of "spinning" and have been enforcing these laws as of late.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21">21</a>

<h2 id="impact-on-elections">Impact on elections</h2>
The extent of the impact of "spin doctors" is contested, though their presence is still recognized in the political environment. The <a href="/facts/1997_United_Kingdom_general_election/4xX3KbPw">1997 General election</a> in the United Kingdom saw a landslide victory for New Labour with a 10.3% swing from <a href="/facts/Conservative_Party_(UK)/0LPlRq1a">Conservative</a> to <a href="/facts/Labour_Party_(UK)/jr0wYRdF">Labour</a>, with help from newspapers such as The Sun towards which <a href="/facts/Alastair_Campbell/szXypH72">Alastair Campbell</a> focused his spinning tactics as he greatly valued their support.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22">22</a> The famous newspaper headline 'The Sun Backs Blair' was a key turning point in the campaign which provided New Labour with a lot of confidence and hope of increased electoral support.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23">23</a> The change in political alignment had an impact on the electorate, with the number of individuals voting for Labour that read switching newspapers rising by 19.4%, compared to only 10.8% by those that did not read switching newspapers; a study conducted by Ladd and Lenz.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24">24</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>

<ul><li><a href="/facts/Apophasis/9L789Qls">Apophasis</a> – Stating something by saying the opposite</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Astroturfing/1jFTaJzI">Astroturfing</a> – Public relations tactic using fake grassroots movements</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Big_lie/AnDy6k6j">Big lie</a> – Propaganda technique</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Cognitive_distortion/BD2GY3GS">Cognitive distortion</a> – Exaggerated or irrational thought pattern</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Corporate_propaganda/R5FHQHrj">Corporate propaganda</a> – Claims made by a corporation/s, for the purpose of manipulating market opinion</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Crisis_communication/BnjlN9fT">Crisis communication</a> – Sub-specialty of the public relations profession</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Dead_cat_strategy/rovT75yg">Dead cat strategy</a> – Introduction of a distracting topic</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Distinction_without_a_difference/Dazuhdz1">Distinction without a difference</a> – Type of logical fallacy</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Dog_whistle_(politics)/zcRpb0Xf">Dog whistle</a> – Political messaging using coded language</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Doublespeak/BdsUqNeD">Doublespeak</a> – Language that deliberately disguises, distorts, or reverses the meaning of words</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Exaggeration/ha3bpW9G">Exaggeration</a> – Statement that represents something in an excessive manner</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Fake_news/nuT9xhDT">Fake news</a> – False or misleading information presented as real</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Five_Star_Movement/D0GkFMLg">Five Star Movement#Criticism</a> – Italian political party</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Framing_(social_sciences)/YtEUJxWj">Framing (social sciences)</a> – Effect of how information is presented on perception</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Gaslighting/kDY0Nw5H">Gaslighting</a> – Type of psychological manipulation</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Impression_management/EKE7KXBF">Impression management</a> – Process to attempt to influence perceptions</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Image_restoration_theory/VEMp7TbQ">Image restoration theory</a> – Theory in crisis communication</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Just_How_Stupid_Are_We%253F/L1hzBy9N">Just How Stupid Are We?</a> – 2008 political book by Rick Shenkman</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Malcolm_Tucker/TAefReWq">Malcolm Tucker</a> – Character from The Thick of It, a fictional spin doctor from the <a href="/facts/BBC/qFateIz8">BBC</a> satirical comedy <a href="/facts/The_Thick_of_It/4Sf3qQQl">The Thick of It</a> and <a href="/facts/In_The_Loop/fUJr7Gf7">In The Loop</a>.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Managing_the_news/AGetnAPA">Managing the news</a> – Media manipulation</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Media_circus/mB61Upfx">Media circus</a> – Phrase describing excessive media coverage</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Media_manipulation/2wscfgPJ">Media manipulation</a> – Techniques in which partisans create an image that favours their interests</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Minimisation_(psychology)/7cIAcB7F">Minimisation (psychology)</a> – Type of deception</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Reputation_laundering/4zucmSUB">Reputation laundering</a> – Use of positive actions to conceal unethical behavior</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Reputation_management/3bjnEUBY">Reputation management</a> – Influencing, controlling, enhancing, or concealing of an individual's or group's reputation</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Sexed_up/63BzANbS">Sexed up</a> – English slang phrase</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Sound_bite/xv4PJI1A">Sound bite</a> – Short audio clip extracted from a recording</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Spin_(1995_film)/1Qs6LIB7">Spin (1995 film)</a> – 1995 documentary film by Brian SpringerPages displaying wikidata descriptions as a fallback</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Spin_Dictators/Ph39aaf1">Spin Dictators</a> – 2022 political science book</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Spin_City/UaV970kA">Spin City (TV Show)</a> – American television series (1996-2002)</li>
<li><a href="/facts/SpinSpotter/XKoDhKoI">SpinSpotter</a> – Online service to identify news bias and inaccuracy</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Truthiness/8CHCEm1N">Truthiness</a> – Quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than actual truth</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Wag_the_Dog/WRURFn5L">Wag the Dog</a> – 1997 film by Barry Levinson— a 1997 American political satire <a href="/facts/Black_comedy/HyjoJzFA">black comedy</a> starring <a href="/facts/Dustin_Hoffman/Le5VxuvN">Dustin Hoffman</a> and <a href="/facts/Robert_De_Niro/5k4lkNfK">Robert De Niro</a> as spin doctors who create a fake war to distract from a presidential sex scandal days before an election</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Weasel_word/v4EL7eJ9">Weasel word</a> – Words or phrases using vague claims to appear meaningful</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Yellow_journalism/IpPE6KkQ">Yellow journalism</a> – Sensationalistic news</li></ul>

<h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2>
<ul><li>Roberts, Alasdair S. (2005). "Spin Control and Freedom of Information: Lessons for the United Kingdom from Canada". Public Administration. 83: 1–23. <a href="/facts/Doi_(identifier)/muM9Etpq">doi</a>:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111%2Fj.0033-3298.2005.00435.x">10.1111/j.0033-3298.2005.00435.x</a>.</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Kathleen_Hall_Jamieson/x8xtb05a">Kathleen Hall Jamieson</a> and Brooks Jackson (2007): unSpun: Finding Facts in a World of Disinformation, (Random House Paperback, <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1400065660)</li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">William Safire, "The Spinner Spun", New York Times, December 22, 1996. <a href="/wiki/William_Safire" target="_blank">/wiki/William_Safire</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Michael, Powell. "Tit for Tat on a Night Where Spin Is Master," New York Times. February 22, 2008. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/politics/22scene.html" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/politics/22scene.html</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">Gaber, Ivor (1999). "Government by spin: an analysis of the process". Contemporary Politics. 5 (3): 263–275. doi:10.1080/13569779908450008. <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_Politics" target="_blank">/wiki/Contemporary_Politics</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Stauber, John and Sheldon Rampton. "Book Review: The Father of Spin: Edward L. Bernays & The Birth of PR by Larry Tye," Archived 2008-11-21 at the Wayback Machine PR Watch (Second Quarter 1999). Vol. 6, No. 2. <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1999Q2/bernays.html" target="_blank">http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/1999Q2/bernays.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Jones, Nicholas (2003). "24-hours media". Journal of Public Affairs. 3 (1): 27–31. doi:10.1002/pa.130. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Street, John (2011). Mass media, politics and democracy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137015556. <a href="9781137015556" target="_blank">9781137015556</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">Gaber, Ivor (1999). "Government by spin: an analysis of the process". Contemporary Politics. 5 (3): 263–275. doi:10.1080/13569779908450008. <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_Politics" target="_blank">/wiki/Contemporary_Politics</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">Gaber, Ivor (2004). "Alastair Campbell, exit stage left: Do the "Phillis" recommendations represent a new chapter in political communications or is it "business as usual"?". Journal of Public Affairs. 4 (4): 365–373. doi:10.1002/pa.199. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:9">Branigan, Tania, "Internet spells end for political spin, says US web guru", The Guardian. 12 June 2007. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/13/newmedia.egovernment" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/jun/13/newmedia.egovernment</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:10">Street, John (2011). Mass media, politics and democracy. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781137015556. <a href="9781137015556" target="_blank">9781137015556</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:11">Oberne, Peter (1999). Alastair Campbell: New Labour and the rise of the media class. London: Aurum. ISBN 9781854106476. <a href="9781854106476" target="_blank">9781854106476</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:12">Campbell, Alastair and; Scott, Richard (2007). The Blair years: extracts from the Alastair Campbell diaries. London: Hutchinson. ISBN 9780099514756. <a href="9780099514756" target="_blank">9780099514756</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:13">Campbell, Alastair (2002). "It's time to bury spin". British Journal Review. 13 (4): 15–23. doi:10.1177/095647480201300403. S2CID 143847032. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:14">Oberne, Peter (1999). Alastair Campbell: New Labour and the rise of the media class. London: Aurum. ISBN 9781854106476. <a href="9781854106476" target="_blank">9781854106476</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:15">Staff. "Are these examples of political spin? Archived 2012-08-15 at the Wayback Machine". BBC Learning Zone. Clip 7265. 2013. <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/are-these-examples-of-political-spin/7265.html" target="_blank">https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/are-these-examples-of-political-spin/7265.html</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:16">Gaber, Ivor (1999). "Government by spin: an analysis of the process". Contemporary Politics. 5 (3): 263–275. doi:10.1080/13569779908450008. <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_Politics" target="_blank">/wiki/Contemporary_Politics</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:17">Weissman, Jerry. "Spin vs. Topspin". The Huffington Post. 19 June 2009. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-weissman/spin-versus-topspin_b_218103.html" target="_blank">http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jerry-weissman/spin-versus-topspin_b_218103.html</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:18">Gaber, Ivor (1999). "Government by spin: an analysis of the process". Contemporary Politics. 5 (3): 263–275. doi:10.1080/13569779908450008. <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_Politics" target="_blank">/wiki/Contemporary_Politics</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:19">Gaber, Ivor (1999). "Government by spin: an analysis of the process". Contemporary Politics. 5 (3): 263–275. doi:10.1080/13569779908450008. <a href="/wiki/Contemporary_Politics" target="_blank">/wiki/Contemporary_Politics</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:20">Oberne, Peter (1999). Alastair Campbell: New Labour and the rise of the media class. London: Aurum. ISBN 9781854106476. <a href="9781854106476" target="_blank">9781854106476</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:21">"FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials". Federal Trade Commission. 2009-10-05. Retrieved 2019-07-24. <a href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2009/10/ftc-publishes-final-guides-governing-endorsements-testimonials" target="_blank">https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2009/10/ftc-publishes-final-guides-governing-endorsements-testimonials</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:22">Fielding, Steven (2002). The Labour Party: continuity and change in the making of 'New' Labour. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 9781403940445. <a href="9781403940445" target="_blank">9781403940445</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:23">Greensalde, Roy (1997). "It's the Sun wot's switched sides back to Blair". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2019. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1997/mar/18/past.roygreenslade" target="_blank">https://www.theguardian.com/politics/1997/mar/18/past.roygreenslade</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:24">Ladd, Jonathan M. and; Lenz, Gabriel S. (2009). "Exploiting a Rare Communication Shift to Document the Persuasive Power of the News Media". American Journal of Political Science. 53 (2): 394–410. doi:10.1111/j.1540-5907.2009.00377.x. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" target="_blank">/wiki/Doi_(identifier)</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Spin (propaganda) open-in-new

Spin (propaganda)