The Institute for Propaganda Analysis was a U.S.-based organization composed of social scientists, opinion leaders, historians, educators, and journalists. Created in 1937 by Kirtley Mather, Edward A. Filene, and Clyde R. Miller, the IPA formed with the general concern that increased amounts of propaganda were enhancing the public’s inability to develop their own critical thoughts. The purpose of the IPA was to spark rational thinking and provide a guide to help the public have well-informed discussions on current issues. “To teach people how to think rather than what to think.” The IPA focused on domestic propaganda issues that might become possible threats to the democratic ways of life. For other uses, see United States (disambiguation) and US (disambiguation). ... 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... It has been suggested that Propaganda in the United States be merged into this article or section. ...

Execution and Audience

To get their message across, the IPA distributed flyers, wrote several issues of the Propaganda Analysis bulletin, and published a series of books, including:

• The Fine Art of Propaganda
• Propaganda Analysis
• Group Leader's Guide to Propaganda Analysis
• Propaganda: How To Recognize and Deal With It

The Propaganda Analysis bulletin indirectly targeted the mass public through newspapers, educators, public officials, and opinion leaders, informing them of who controlled and influenced the flow of propaganda through various channels of communications. The IPA directly targeted the presidents and deans of national colleges, bishops and ministers, educational and religious periodicals, and education students by sending out flyers. Also, in an attempt to educate the public about how to identify propagandistic material, the IPA issued a set of methods called the “seven common propaganda devices”:

1. Name-calling
2. Glittering generalities
3. Transfer
4. Testimonial
5. Plain folks
6. Card stacking
7. Bandwagon

These “ABC’s of Propaganda Analysis” encouraged readers to understand and analyze their own views on propagandistic material in order to promote informed thought provoking discussions. Glittering generalities are emotionally appealing words so closely associated with highly valued concepts and beliefs that they carry conviction without supporting information or reason. ... Did you mean? decal Population transfer Manhattan Transfer List of Latin words with English derivatives Transfer (movie) Electron transfer Fare transfer A technique in propaganda This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Testimonial - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Card stacking is used intentionally to deceive people so that they will support a cause or ideal in wich the propagandist strongly believes or from wh ich he or she will realize financial gain. ... Bandwagon may refer to: any of several observable copycat behaviours, as used in the phrase to jump on the bandwagon; see bandwagon effect and bandwagon fallacy. ...

Success

The IPA proved to be popular having achieved 5,900 subscriptions to its bulletin in the first year. By 1939, the IPA had created flourishing, educational programs which saw high schools, colleges, and adult civic groups engaged in discussions about propaganda. One of the IPA’s goals was to gain as much public support as possible and build a credible reputation. This initial success was due to the time period’s obsession with propaganda. 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Downfall

The IPA faced many allegations that undermined its purpose. These suggested that the IPA created “more of a destructive skepticism than an intelligent reflectiveness.” The IPA lost support from many of its publishers and also faced internal conflicts through resignations from its board members and its troubled teachers. The approach of WWII also posed a problem. It would force the IPA not only to examine and criticize the enemy’s propaganda, but assess America’s use of propaganda as well. The IPA maintains the reason it suspended its operations in 1942 was due to lack of sufficient funds and not the war. An allegation is a statement of fact by a party in a pleading, which he or she expects to prove. ... German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... This article is about the year. ...

Significance

In an era ripe with political propaganda, the IPA helped the American public develop its critical thinking skills. The IPA serves as an ongoing symbol of the importance to understand the nature of propaganda in our society.

References

• Garber, W. “Propaganda Analysis—to what ends?” American Journal of Sociology. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/AJS/home.html

• Hindery, Roderick, Propaganda vs Critical Thought, http://www.public.asu.edu/~sheilrod/
• Hindery, Roderick, Indoctrination and Self-deception or Free and Critical Thought? Mellen,2001

• Jowett, Garth S. & Victoria O’Donnell. “Propaganda and Persuasion.” Sage Publication Inc. Newbury Park, California 1992.

• “Propaganda” http://www.propagandacritic.com/articles/intro.ipa.html Oct 20, 2005.

• Sproule, Michael J. “Propaganda and Democracy: The American Experience of Media and Mass Persuasion.” Cambridge University Press. New York, New York 1997.

• Waples, Douglas. “Print, Radio, and Film in a Democracy.” The University of Chicago Press. Chicago, Illinois 1941.