Fake News

Imagine waking up in the morning and then heading down to school when you see a billboard that reads, "Cigarettes are kind to your throat". I mean if I saw that the first thing that would come to my mind would be that the statement is false. But if you are a women living in the 20's and you see an opera singer in an ad saying this, then you might believe it. Back then fake news was a way the Public Relations reps would trick people into believing what they wanted them to, in order to please their corporate clients.

Today fake news is used more for a means of entertainment. There are so many fake news shows out there right now like this hour has 22 minutes and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Their main purpose is to deliver the news in an entertaining fashion. The sad thing is that most people get there information from these shows which are not always true 100% of the time.

Even though the fake news of today is not as manipulative as the news back in the 20's, it is still a sad fact that you can not depend on the news. It is more for the purpose of entertaining then reporting the truth. What would you rather listen to the opening of a new library in Toronto's east end, or if Sarah Palin spends $250,000 on her cloths?

Cigarettes were seen as a sign of freedom by women after world war one. Propaganda made it seem like a women could let go if they smoked. During that time health wasn't an issue because not many people knew the true effects of smoking. Eventually when women probably found out that cigarettes were not so good for them. It was too late to turn back and the PR reps were already on their way to coming up with a new campaign, to trick the public once more.

Sources:

Stauber, John, and Sheldon Rampton. Toxic Sludge is Good For You! Lies, Damn
Lies and the Public Relations Industry. 1st ed. Monroe, Maine: Common Courage Press, 1995.