Propaganda Techniques
A complete guide to media manipulation.
Every day, news outlets use psychological techniques to shape how you think about the world. These are not conspiracy theories — they are well-documented rhetorical strategies used across the political spectrum. Learning to identify them is the first step toward reading the news on your own terms.
Why This Matters
Propaganda is not something that only happens in authoritarian regimes. It is embedded in everyday media coverage — in the words journalists choose, the stories editors prioritize, and the context that gets left on the cutting room floor.
Understanding these techniques does not make you paranoid. It makes you a better reader. Below are 12 of the most common propaganda techniques found in modern news media, each with real-world examples and a guide for spotting them in the wild.
The 12 Techniques
Loaded Language
Using emotionally charged words to manipulate rather than inform.
Narrative Framing
How story structure shapes perception by choosing what to emphasize and omit.
Appeal to Fear
Exploiting anxiety to bypass rational thinking.
Appeal to Authority
Using credentials or status as a substitute for evidence.
Bandwagon Effect
"Everyone thinks this" as a substitute for proof.
Whataboutism
Deflecting criticism by pointing to someone else's wrongdoing.
False Equivalence
Presenting two unequal things as comparable.
Cherry-Picking
Selecting only data that supports a predetermined conclusion.
Omission Bias
What they don't tell you matters as much as what they do.
Straw Man
Misrepresenting an argument to make it easier to attack.
Ad Hominem
Attacking the person instead of the argument.
Manufacturing Consent
How media creates the illusion of public agreement.