Member-only story
How to Flip the Script
Propaganda Spotting & Style Guide Edits for Rebels
Where do the phrases repeated in the news come from?
All different places, of course, but a disturbing number come from corporate PR firms hired to sway public opinion away from public interests.
This process is documented by Alec Karakatsanis in his Copaganda Newsletter, and precious few other places.
For those who don’t know, a style guide is an annually published reference book for reporters and journalists put out by news organizations like the Associated Press.
Below I’ll be critically examining and replacing words and phrases that defend power structures from scrutiny. The replacement words and phrases will justly place blame for social problems on those who hold power, and in doing so, will also be more precise.
Officer Involved Shooting vs. Shot by Police
This is one that should be obvious by now. Why the passive language? It is an intentional attempt to make state violence sound less violent.
Conversley, whenever there is violence against the state, police, or private property, active language is used and the violent nature of the event is played up.
