Information Distribution During Wwi

Information Distribution during WWI

How did George Creel describe America's effort at distributing wartime information?

In "How we Advertised America", George Creel makes a revealing statement that the America war effort was not fought in France alone, arguing that, on the domestic front, it was a fight to conquer the convictions and hearts of men (Creel 1). He was adamant that the Committee on Public Information (CPI) never set out to establish censorship and that, at all time, it sought to communicate only the facts. In defense of accusations that the committee's Division of News was limiting to the freedom of the press and speech, he claimed that wartime distribution of information was plain salesmanship, a publicity proposition, and great advertising of the American war effort (Creel 1). In short, he is adamant that the Division of News was more of a government news bureau, promoting the government's war effort in WWI as a product of facts that were essential for the safety and success of the country and its people.

Still. He was clear on the committee's role, arguing that its main role was to win popular American and global support for the war effort, including fusing the state and the individual as one. For example, he argues that the committee was driven by a passionate belief in the just nature of the American war effort, which should bring together citizens of the US into a mass of deathless determination, courage, devotion, and fraternity (Creel 2). He was also careful to note that the United States' will to win as a democracy was dependent on how well its people could devote their spirit and soul in a selfless effort of sacrifice and service. Indeed, he remarks that the committee had to drive home the fact that every task was done in common for the sole purpose for the war and that all business was the business of the government (Creel 5).

To what core values did the posters appeal? How do they make those appeals? What stories do they tell?

While wartime propaganda was in use long before WWI broke out, the use posters, especially in the United States, was pioneered during WWI. In the beginning, these posters were meant to whip up support for the war effort after the US declared war on Germany, followed by newer messages aimed at increasing the number of recruits into the military (James 22). Wartime propaganda sought to appeal to the American audience's known desires, in the knowledge that such words as Americanism and justice would arouse favorable attitudes, while others like "un-American" or "radical" would influence the audience to reject causes that were inimical to their interests. The CPI created posters that used demonization of the Germans and dissenters, as well as emotional appeals to the American