Spin (politics)

From Wikinfo

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In politics and public relations spin refers to portraying an event or fact in a way that is favorable to you and unfavorable to your political opponents. This is called "putting a positive spin on a story" or just "spinning" the story.

Practitioners of spin are often referred to as spin doctors.

The techniques of spin include:

• Selective quotation
• Selective use of facts
• Non-denial denial
• Phrasing in a way that assumes unproven truths
• "Burying" stories by releasing information at times when more important events dominate the news
• Euphemisms to disguise or promote one's agenda

Spin is effectively the techniques of "grey propaganda" applied to politics and PR.

See also:

• Alastair Campbell
• Journalism
• Public relations
• Media manipulation
• Disinfopedia
• Soundbite
• Censorship in the United States

External links:

• BBC news story: "We've too many spin doctors"

References

• Adapted from the Wikipedia article, "Spin_(politics)" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spin_(politics), used under the GNU Free Documentation License