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What has been aimed at the Presidency for the past 8 months could well be labelled, "Black Propaganda"
It's the media weapon that could manipulate people's minds, and drain them of their ability to analyse and see through things
Hence, they become puppets moved by the media tools, which direct them in accordance with their own interests
The Egyptian people is facing the largest Black-Propaganda process in the history of mankind
This is when media turns into information maker rather than transmitter
This Black Propaganda (BP) aims to take Egypt back to pre-state period
The Black Propaganda (BP)
Prof. Safwat Al-Alem Media Professor - Cairo U.
Usually, BP focuses on the pessimistic side of events, or the one which disgraces the opponent
Even more, it deliberately conveys news without providing authentic sources
Dr. Ahmad Abdallah Professor of Psychology
Circulating info and materail that could well have been fabricated, to influence receivers of different levels
Wael Qandeel Editor-in-Chief of Shourouk Newspaper
They start playing with your mind, manipulating your consciousness, and gradually get your ears used to hearing what was before unbelievable
Dr. Adel Abd El-Gaffar Media Professor - Cairo U.
It's a psychological war conducted by one political party against another
A war lacking professionalism, objectivity, and neutrality
BP is a destructive element, becuase it's based on lies, fabrications, disinformation, bias, machination, and decption
Often, for the idea to get through, it must be related in some way to reaity
BP is keen to appear honest at first
Hence, it realies on accurate information, and resorts to selective exaggerations
Implanting a certain idea, and start churning it as though it were an original ..
A lie here, and a lie there
Each knows its own way and direction
In an atmosphere of lies, they meet together thus reinforcing one another, leaving no room for the truth
And thereby our minds are filled with black lies
Various means and mediums BP relies on to reach audiences' minds
1st: Lying and Smearing
There are innumerable examples of rumours and disinformation; there's isn't almost a day passing without a new rumor going around
Essam Sultan Vice-President of Al-Wasat Party
Lies amounted to the size of a mountain, with around 10 to 15 lies passed everyday, not exculding any figure at all in Presidency
I was once a victim myself
There was a meeting for a certain party, where I attended for short while and then left
I was surprised to find an annoncer saying on TV that there was a clash with hands between me and someone else!
I am truly sorry that you compelled me to tell you on air that this is a flat lie!
This isn't right to have our lives mingled with lies this way
We need to draw a line, or else no one would ever believe you again
Another example: when someone set fire to the Scientific Institution, they brought in a lady announcer , one who can well put on a nerve-racking air
And she cries out, "Repressed youth! What else are they to do?!"
And thus they unconsciously justify this for youths, to go and set fire as well so as not to feel repressed!
2nd: Repetition Constant repetition instills taken-for-granted facts in the audiences' consciousness
Gobbels used to say, "Lie until they believe you."
To boost a false idea, repeat, repeat, repeat
Bankruptcy
Egypt will soon announce bankruptcy!
- Bankruptcy?! - Precisely!
Egypt going bankrupt
Soon Egypt will be bankrupt
Egypt on the brink of bankruptcy
One of the main elements in a rumor is adding a new detail every time it's repeated
Why? To pave the way for implanting more, and have people despair, besides it's being a tool of agitation
3rd: Rumors
A rumour is a made-up piece of information, which people pass around without verification
If there is an interesting piece of news regarding people's live or country's economy, wrapped in haziness, vagueness, and mystery, this helps to spread the rumor even quicker
Dr. Mohammad Al-Gawadi Intellect and Historian
Such rumours do not aim to inform, since they are essentially based on a lie, or some sort of semi-truth to give it temporary appeal
A foggy atmosphere is the perfect haven for rumours, which helps to ingrain chaos in society
Thus smearing political opponents, and inciting public opinion against them, for the sake of the rumourmonger
A rumourmonger is often someone with an agenda
It's essentially a fabrication, but flavoured with some truth on the ground
The audience picks up on this rumour, with a tendency to repeat mechanically on Facebook and Twitter
A rumour today doesn't take days or even hours to spread around, but it does so in minutes
People quickly give ears to rumours, but are slow to believe refutations
Quoting Churchill, "a lie will go round the world while truth is pulling its boots on."
4th: Distortion and Twisting
Cutting and pasting to suit their ends
A certain truth ma be used, but in a different suggestive or sentimental context
When lying isn't an available option, the alternative is directing attention else where, away from what might go against their interests
Even though, many human-rights organisations confirmed 19 mass-*** cases in Tahrir Sq., the media turned a blind eye to that
And focused instead on the case of a citizen being stripped in front of Al-Ettihadiya Palace
A citizen beaten and stripped of his clothes
When the haziness is cleared, you realize a grave sin is being committed
A numbered car, with some privates who atrociously stripped the man off his clothes
[Same exaggerated headlines]
**Translator's Note: this incident turned out to be a planned show**
5th: Catchwords
One of the widely utilised tools of BP could be termed, "ready-made verbals moulds"
Cliches, in other words
Something like, Ikwanisation of the country [From Ikwan= Muslim-Brotherhood in Ar.]
A catchword devoid of meaning or its meaning is vague and undefined
Then whenever you want to pass a piece of info., you paste it with the cliche, and start promoting it
BP has always started off at times of war, or of conflict
Talk Shows usually deal with news in a dramatic way; the term itself denotes a "show," meaning putting on an act in one way or another
This entails exaggeration, dramatisation, generalisation, ill-grounded arguments
Therefore, we are in a tight corner
Yellow journalism in the morning, internet in the afternoon, TV in the evening, all aiming at having us despair, hate ourselves, our country, our regime, and finally migrate away
The BP waged full-fledged campain against President Morsi in an immoral way
Hence inciting people against him
Part 2: How the BP Was Used Against President Morsi