Difference Between Public Relation and Propaganda

Propaganda is the deliberate and systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate

Public Relations is the planned and sustained effort to establish and maintain goodwill and
understanding between an organisation and its publics.

UK Institute of Public Relations, 1987

Indeed, there are similarities between the two practices. The above definitions highlight how
both, propaganda and Public Relations have the same purpose – to influence public
perception in order to generate a desired response.

Like propaganda, PR is systematic, serves to achieve set goals and involves management of
perceptions. Both models use various media platforms to reach different audiences. The
difference lies in intentions and motivation in their usage.

Although PR and propaganda share the same objective and often share same techniques of
delivering a message, there is a difference

Propaganda is often used to damage an opposing cause, organisation or individual. The

PR, on the other hand, regards truth as important and is usually used to present truthful
information in a positive light. E.g.When an organization is facing a controversy, a
PR campaign may be put together in order to address the issue and restore the company’s
reputation.

In support of my words, ladies and gentleman, CIPR’s list of values:

Both PR and propaganda are extremely powerful tools. Although their definitions are similar,
the practices differ and the difference lies in their relationship to truth.

Public Relations isn’t well understood by many, including PR practitioners and their clients.
That’s why it is important that values, like the ones of CIPR, lie in the core of the practice.
Otherwise PR stops being PR and becomes what Polish politicians accuse each other of doing
– propaganda.

Data from Other sources

Propaganda uses lies, half-truths, innuendo, smears, misinformation, one-sided arguments

Public relations uses truth if, for no other reason, their claims can be checked. PR relies on
logic, facts and sometimes emotions to spread information between an organization or
individual and its publics—information to promote products, services and build good will for
the organizations offering them.

Propaganda’s underlying philosophy is us against them. “They” are often denigrated as

Public Relations takes the facts and frames them in a light that is positive for all parties
involved; there is no twisting of words or information, and all of the information presented is
valid and authentic.
 
Propaganda, on the other hand, is typically more negative in nature; it involves the twisting of
information in order to better its own cause, with little regard for the audience involved. It
concerned about its own personal betterment, oftentimes with little regard for accuracy.

Public relations’ underlying philosophy is building trust between an organization and its
products and services with its targeted audiences for mutual benefit.

Propaganda relies on one-way communications. It seeks to eliminate dissent, and those who
disagree may suddenly “disappear.”

Increasingly, public relations relies on two-way communications via social media and
encourages different points of view so organizations can better service their clients and
customers.

The Difference Between Public Relations and Propaganda

A large part of the Strategic Communications major, and this profession in general, is truly
understanding the difference between Public Relations and propaganda. Sure, both of them
attempt to change the way people think and impact a certain audience. The main difference,
though, is the validity and truth of a statement.
 
Public Relations takes the facts and frames them in a light that is positive for all parties
involved; there is no twisting of words or information, and all of the information presented is
valid and authentic.
 
Propaganda, on the other hand, is typically more negative in nature; it involves the twisting
of information in order to better its own cause, with little regard for the audience involved. It
concerned about its own personal betterment, oftentimes with little regard for accuracy.
 
Here is a great example of a Public Relations campaign by Procter & Gamble in 2015:
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs
 
This is public relations because it is taking the message that girls are strong and powerful,
and framing it in a way that relates to its audience well. It debunks stereotypes placed on
women by society by using hard facts and genuine people to do this. It is empowering
women and making an idea clear to the public while remaining ethical and sincere.z
 
Here are 4 examples of propaganda in a podcast from This American Life:
 
https://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/575/poetry-of-propaganda
 
The most impactful one, in my opinion, is act 2, in which a children’s play titled “Eviction
Blues” is explained. This play had the children perform and sing about the “techies” taking
over the San Francisco area, and how many families were being forced to evacuate their
homes. However, the play didn’t properly represent both sides, and portrayed hard working
citizens in a negative light in order to better the opposing side’s message. This is propaganda
because it is attempting to impact the audience’s way of thinking while spinning information
to better a specific cause.