The definition of propaganda?

By now you must know that today is the official release date of Fahrenheit 9/11. Media outlets are littered with dicussion of the latest and most controversial Michael Moore film to date. There are numerous articles from all sides of the political spectrum, all discussing some element of the film. I'd like to focus on the question of what defines propaganda? Or, more specifically, why some people argue that Moore's film is propaganda while "news" agencies like CNN, FoxNews, CBS, are well, "news" and not biased information sources?

I feel like the word "propaganda" has lost its meaning. Moore is certainly not hiding his bias while these news sources claim to be "balanced." So what is propaganda? Is it when someone is so obviously biased that it's clear that they stand on a certain side of an argument? Is it still propaganda when television news uses its own editing techniques and sneaky biases to put together its version of news? Or when journalists or all media fail to properly report on important government activity (or inactivity)? Is this website propaganda because I said the news networks have "sneaky" biases?

According to Merriam-Webster:

prä-p&-'gan-d&, "prO- Function: noun 1 capitalized : a congregation of the Roman curia having jurisdiction over missionary territories and related institutions, 2 : the spreading of ideas, information, or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause, or a person, 3 : ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or to damage an opposing cause; also : a public action having such an effect

During his interview on CBS's The Early Show, Moore defended his film and attacked American television networks for producing their own propaganda:

As for his film being propaganda, he says, “No. I consider the CBS Evening News propaganda. Why don’t we talk about the news on this and the other networks that didn’t do the job they should have done at the beginning of this war, demanded the evidence, asked the hard questions.

“We may not have even gone into this war, had these networks done their job. I mean, it was a great disservice to the American people because we depend on people who work here and the other networks to go after those in power and say, ‘Hey, wait a minute. You want to send our kids off to war? We want to know where the weapons of mass destruction are. Let’s see the proof. Let’s see the proof Saddam Hussein had something to do with Sept. 11.' There was no proof and everybody got embedded and everybody rolled over and everybody knows that now,” he says.

Links:
"Moore Takes Aim at Bush, Networks"
Fahrenheit 9/11 Official Site
Michael Moore's Offical Site

Comments

[James]

Exactly, FOX News, by far the worst offender, claims to be balanced. If they are, then Moore is. There have also been statements comparing the film to the works of Leni Riefenstahl, which is, no matter how you feel about Moore, abominable.

The better point, the one that Jon Stewart makes often on the Daily show is that Republicans are much better organized, they show up, they vote. If we want change or rather want to stop the changes that are occuring.

[Ophylia]

When media ceases to be non-partisan, it becomes propaganda.

I'm sure many of you reading this are aware of the media restrictions that have been in place over the Iraq occupation. Similar to actions taken during the Gulf War, the American government is attempting to restrict media coverage to that which will promote the invasion as an ideal. Heaven forbid you wish to provide an opposing view and want to get closer to the story.

In effect, this creates rather skewed mainstream coverage. The big networks, in a plight to keep their ratings up, bend to the will of the United States government. Smaller media outlets are pushed out.

Unfortunately, many citizens who want to remain informed would rather turn on their television sets than delve on the Internet for different viewpoints. The result is a large percentage of the popluation forming strong opinions based on a small percentage of the story — which seems to suit the current heads of the American government just fine.

[liam]

Moore's attacks on CBS are completely justified. Propaganda doesn't just come from governments. What is dished out the average viewer is apalling and anyone with a blog and a few minutes knows this. When the news is sponsored by companies that have a stake in the stories (car companies that also make tanks, drug companies that also supply medicine to the army, etc) it will obviously affect the content.

These days you must seek very hard to find the truth.