When Propaganda Became a Dirty Word

ABSTRACT With the emergence of systematic, pervasive government information programs and the rise of persuasion as a new profession, the words propaganda and publicity became definitional in the twentieth century. This historical qualitative and quantitative content analysis of the New York Times provides a basis for understanding the usage of propaganda and publicity during the years leading up to, during, and after World War I. At the turn of the nineteenth century, propaganda had a benign, narrow meaning. Propaganda became a negative word during World War I. Publicity also did not come out of the war unscathed. This research provides a more granular understanding of the emergence of persuasion as a profession and helps the readers understand the forces behind the emergence of mass communication as a field of study.