media manipulation
Controlling public narrative
Media manipulation is the deliberate shaping of information through news outlets, social platforms, or other channels to influence public perception.
Techniques include selective reporting, misleading framing, manufactured outrage, and coordinated amplification of particular narratives.
The term implies deception or bad faith: The scandal revealed years of media manipulation by the regime.
It may describe government propaganda, corporate spin, or grassroots disinformation campaigns.
Intentionally deceptive media content
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- deepfakeAI-manipulated video mimicry
conspiracy theory · troll farms · astroturfing · sockpuppets · fact-checking · debunking · viral lies · information warfare
Influencing adversary perceptions strategically
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
- sloganeeringReliance on pithy phrases
mythmaking · manufactured consent · public relations · wartime propaganda · political advertising · narrative control · thought control · hearts and minds
Self-reinforcing information environment
- filter bubbleAlgorithm-created information isolation
- social engineeringManipulating people for information
- influencer marketingPromotion through social personalities
- native advertisingPaid media matching platform style
Controlling which issues dominate
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- primingMaking ready beforehand
- spin doctoringStrategic framing of information
- talking pointsPrepared discussion themes
soundbites · cherry-picking · quote mining · sensationalism · clickbait · selective editing · emotional appeal · fear mongering
Oblique angle or bias
- distortionTwisting from original state
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
- one-sidednessImbalanced viewpoint or treatment
partisanship · selective reporting · loaded language · false balance · spin · editorial bias · confirmation bias · anchoring
Forcible prevention or concealment
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- blackoutComplete power loss
- gag orderCourt-imposed speech restriction
- information controlManaging what others learn
silencing · deplatforming · shadowbanning · takedown · press restrictions · state censorship · self-censorship · news blackout
fake news
Intentionally deceptive media content
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
deepfake · conspiracy theory · troll farms · astroturfing · sockpuppets · fact-checking · debunking · viral lies · information warfare · foreign interference
psychological operations
Influencing adversary perceptions strategically
- indoctrinationSystematic uncritical belief instillation
- agitpropPolitical art for causes
- demagogueryManipulative political rhetoric
sloganeering · mythmaking · manufactured consent · public relations · wartime propaganda · political advertising · narrative control · thought control · hearts and minds
echo chamber
Self-reinforcing information environment
- filter bubbleAlgorithm-created information isolation
- social engineeringManipulating people for information
- influencer marketingPromotion through social personalities
native advertising · attention economy · microtargeting · dark patterns
agenda-setting
Controlling which issues dominate
- gatekeepingControlling access to something
- primingMaking ready beforehand
- spin doctoringStrategic framing of information
talking points · soundbites · cherry-picking · quote mining · sensationalism · clickbait · selective editing · emotional appeal · fear mongering · infotainment
slant
Oblique angle or bias
- distortionTwisting from original state
- misrepresentationFalse or misleading statement
- partialityUnfair favor toward some
one-sidedness · partisanship · selective reporting · loaded language · false balance · spin · editorial bias · confirmation bias · anchoring
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- redactionObscuring sensitive text
- blackoutComplete power loss
- gag orderCourt-imposed speech restriction
information control · silencing · deplatforming · shadowbanning · takedown · press restrictions · state censorship · self-censorship · news blackout · restricted access
- Conspiraciesconspiracy, deep state, new world order, chemtrails, flat earth
- disinformationdisinformation, misinformation, misinformation campaigns, fake news, propaganda
- media biasbias, editorial bias, slant, partisan, partiality
- media effectsagenda-setting, framing, priming, desensitization, persuasion
- media ethicsjournalism ethics, journalistic ethics, journalistic integrity, code of ethics, checkbook journalism
- media spinspin doctor, talking points, framing, reframing, messaging
media manipulationjournalistic integrity
Reporter's duty to truth
ethical journalism · responsible journalism · investigative journalism · watchdog journalism · balanced coverage
media manipulationtruthfulness
Habit of not lying
media literacy · transparency · media accountability · informed consent · intellectual honesty
media, mediator, mediate, mediation, manipulation, manipulative, manipulator, manipulated, medial