propaganda

Every morning she sat at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and scanned the small stack of leaflets and newspapers that had arrived during the night . Today a bright , glossy leaflet caught her eye ; it was carefully designed to inflame feelings about a community matter , and she recognized the hallmarks of propaganda : selective facts , exaggerated claims and vivid imagery . Rather than accept its message uncritically , she made a habit of verifying sources , comparing dates and statistics , and seeking independent reporting to provide necessary context . When she wasn't sure , she called her neighbour to talk it over , since conversation often revealed nuance the leaflet had ignored . By the time she left for work she felt more confident in separating persuasive tactics from reliable information and better prepared to form a balanced view .