PR BLOG

By: Gracie Lindsay

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  • From War Posters to Social Media

    From War Posters to Social Media

    How Propaganda Continues to Shape Public Opinion

    By: Gracie Lindsay

    Figure 1. The iconic “I Want You” poster from World War I used patriotism and a direct emotional appeal to encourage Americans to enlist in the military. (Source: James Montgomery Flagg, 1917, Library of Congress)

    Propaganda has affected public opinion for over a century, but how it is presented has changed tremendously. During World War I, governments used posters, speeches, and newspapers to promote patriotism and rally support for the war. Today, similar strategies are used on social media, where political statements can reach millions of people nearly instantaneously. After listening to the Marketing Muckraking and Civics 101 podcasts, I discovered that propaganda is more than simply conveying misleading information. It also involves influencing emotions, reinforcing current views, and influencing how people perceive those who disagree with them.

    Fear and Emotion – Very Powerful Tools of Propaganda

    Fear-mongering is one of the most polarizing propaganda strategies. During World War I, governments persuaded populations to support the war by appealing to patriotism and depicting opposing countries as major threats. As discussed in our course materials, propaganda efforts impacted public opinion through a variety of means, including war bonds and public speeches (Moore, 2024). WWI propaganda posters also used striking images and emotional messages to encourage young men to enlist and gain support (Schneider, 2024).

    Albers (2022) describes in the Marketing Muckraking podcast how these early propaganda attempts helped build strategies that became common in advertising and public relations. What jumped out to me was how quickly fear may influence people’s choices. When someone receives a message that makes them feel frightened or furious, they may react emotionally rather than question the accuracy of the information. This becomes particularly dangerous, in my opinion, when political propaganda pushes people to see others as adversaries rather than as people who hold different views.

    Video 1. A brief history of propaganda and its role in shaping public opinion throughout history. (Source: Picsandportraits, 2019).

    Social Media and the Spread of Division

    While propaganda was formerly dependent on traditional media, social media has made it more convenient to convey messages fast and target specific audiences. In the Civics 101 podcast, Capodice and McCarthy (2022) examine how propaganda exploits psychological vulnerabilities such as confirmation bias and people’s need to belong to a community.

    I believe this is one of the most serious issues with current propaganda. Social media algorithms frequently present users with content that promotes their existing beliefs. Over time, this can make opposing ideas appear less logical and worsen political divisions.

    Artificial intelligence adds to the complexity of the situation. According to an Associated Press article, the Wesleyan Media Project discovered at least 164 political commercials generated or modified with AI during the 2026 election cycle, with 69% lacking AI disclosures (Goldin, 2026). This raises concerns about how quickly audiences can be exposed to fake news without being aware of it.

    The Responsibility of Public Relations Professionals

    Understanding these strategies is extremely crucial for public relations professionals, as influencing public opinion is a big part of their job. However, I believe there is a significant distinction between influencing an audience and manipulating one. The Public Relations Society of America’s Code of Ethics prioritizes honesty, integrity, and fairness in professional communication (Public Relations Society of America, n.d.). These concepts are especially important given how quickly misinformation can spread. PR professionals should be in charge of validating information, disclosing their sources, and correcting inaccurate claims. They should also assess whether a message is truly educating the audience or merely trying to provoke an emotional response. One of the most important things I’ve learned is that just because a communication technique works does not necessarily mean it’s ethical. Gaining attention through fear or division may have immediate impact, but it can also harm credibility and trust in the long run.

    Building Trust Instead of Division

    Looking at propaganda from World War I to current political campaigns shows that while means of communication evolve, core strategies frequently remain unchanged. Fear, emotional appeals, and selective information continue to shape how people perceive the world around them.

    For me, the most significant takeaway is that public relations professionals must utilize their power wisely. Effective communication should promote understanding rather than exploiting people’s emotions or preexisting biases. In a climate where misinformation is becoming increasingly difficult to detect, preserving honesty and transparency is critical to establishing a lasting public trust.

    References

    Albers, R. K. (2022, August 17). Marketing, propaganda, and politics from WWI to Trump [Audio podcast episode]. In Marketing Muckraking. https://rachaelkayalbers.com/episode-20-marketing-muckraking-wwi-propaganda-to-trump-raid/

    Capodice, N., & McCarthy, H. (Hosts). (2022, November 29). Propaganda [Audio podcast episode]. In Civics 101. New Hampshire Public Radio. https://www.civics101podcast.org/civics-101-episodes/propaganda

    Flagg, J. M. (1917). I want you for U.S. Army: Nearest recruiting station [Poster]. Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/item/96507165/

    Goldin, M. (2026, September 25). AI ads are popular in the 2026 midterms, but state laws haven’t stopped a lack of disclosure. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/artificial-intelligence-campaign-ads-midterms-d375801e10821b3e6ac776ffc77e1f28

    Moore, J. (Ed.). (2024). Public relations: Principles, origins, and practice. Cognella Academic Publishing.

    picsandportraits. (2019). A brief history of propaganda [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQEnOJInwEg

    Public Relations Society of America. (n.d.). PRSA code of ethics. https://www.prsa.org/professional-development/prsa-resources/ethics

    Schneider, A. (2024, July 3). We want you to see these World War I propaganda posters. Unframed. https://unframed.lacma.org/2024/07/03/we-want-you-see-these-world-war-i-propaganda-posters

  • Ivy Lee’s Lasting Impact on Public Relations

    Figure 1. Ivy Ledbetter Lee. Photograph by Harris & Ewing, Library of Congress. Public domain.

    Public relations has changed a lot since the early 1900s, but many of the questions and ideas surrounding this profession have stayed the same. What amount of information should a company disclose? Where does one establish the line between deceiving the public and defending a client’s reputation? While listening to Drilled’s “The Father of Public Relations”, questions like these caught my attention. The episode revolves around Ivy Ledbetter Lee, who was one of the first significant figures associated with public relations, and his collaboration with John D. Rockefeller Jr. at a time when the public was closely watching the Rockefeller family. I learned from the episode that Lee’s impact extends beyond history. His approach to corporate communication raised ethical issues that are still important today while also establishing methods that public relations professionals still use today. (Westervelt, 2020)

    Ivy Lee and the Rise of Corporate PR

    Lee was a major contributor to public relations because he urged corporations to be more direct with journalists and the public. The textbook discusses the development of public relations as a career based on communication, relationships, reputation and making strategic choices (Moore, 2024). At a time when many big businesses were not used to publicly justifying their activities, Lee’s efforts helped establish that role.

    A perfect example was in 1906, when Lee worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad after a fatal train crash. PRSA’s “Happy Birthday to the Press Release” states that Lee asked the railroad for details on the accident, and provided transportation for journalists to visit the location. According to the article, that response produced what is largely regarded as the first contemporary press release (Blackburn-Gay, 2019). Today, making a statement, talking to reporters and responding quickly in a crisis are all part of the normal course of public relations. More than a century later, Lee’s lasting impact is easily recognized.

    Figure 2. Bureau of Railway Economics material shown in The Spin Masters: From Ivy Lee to Rick Berman. Drilled (Westervelt, 2020).

    Transparency vs. Reputation

    The fact that Lee’s legacy goes beyond simply demonstrating transparency grabbed my attention the most. Drilled describes his work with the Rockefellers as a development of corporate communication to rebuild a damaged reputation (Westervelt, 2020). This conflict is also evident in a 1934 TIME article about Lee. TIME expressed his opinion that corporations should have the public’s trust, but it additionally stated that journalists believed Lee released information that was favorble to his clients while withholding other information.

    The reason that this distinction matters is because giving information isn’t the same thing as providing a complete or “fair” picture. In our class textbook, the subject of ethics stresses the value of concepts like integrity, transparency, accountability, and trust (Moore, 2024). These themes are clearly applicable to Lee’s career. His approach made organizations want to talk instead of remaining quiet. His work also shows us how much power a public relations professional has over what information the public gets.

    Why Does Ivy Lee Still Matter to PR Professionals?

    You can still see Lee’s influence at work when a corporation publishes a press release, responds when faced with a crisis or collaborates with reporters to let them know the meaning behind their actions. However, the social duties that come with this sort of authority are stressted more in today’s professional standards. The PRSA Code of Ethics instructs professionals to be honest and accurate, to investigate the truth of information released for clients and to avoid misleading techniques (Public Relations Society of America, n.d.)

    This is, in my opinion, the most essential lesson in Lee’s story. PR professionals are supposed to be advocates for their clients, but they also spread information that can impact people’s beliefs. Lee helped to develop some of the methods that make modern corporate PR possible. His work also demonstrates why these methods require ethical standards. The primary challenge for today’s PR professionals is not simply getting an organization’s message out there, but instead communicating in a way that preserves reputation and maintains the public’s trust.

    References

    Blackburn-Gay, D. (2019, October 30). Happy birthday to the press release. Public Relations Society of America.

    Harris & Ewing. (1905). Ivy L. Lee [Photograph]. Library of Congress.

    Moore, J. (Ed.). (2024). Public relations: Principles, origins, and practice (1st ed.). Cognella Academic Publishing.

    Public Relations Society of America. (n.d.). PRSA Code of Ethics.

    TIME. (1934, November 19). Press: Death of Lee. TIME.

    Westervelt, A. (Host). (2020, January 21). The father of public relations (Season 3, Episode 1) [Audio podcast episode]. In Drilled.