Overview
ESSAY PROMPT: In class, we discussed how propaganda is designed to target perceptions of events/information, perceptions of people, and perceptions of the source of a message. Please read the following guidelines for how the United States Food and Drug Administration regulates drug advertisements, particularly the information required in product claim ads. Then watch the ad for COVID-19 drug Paxlovid, sponsored by Pfizer—this ad can also be found in your assignment on Canvas. The regulations from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for drug advertising are designed, in part, to guard against propaganda from pharmaceutical companies. Using the advertisement for Pfizer as an example and the guidelines from the FDA, explain how propagandistic influence may be limited in these types of ads and whether such efforts are successful. Your 600-750 word essay should (a) clearly define and differentiate propaganda versus persuasion*, (b) explain how the FDA standards and the Pfizer ad are designed to limit propagandistic influence, and finally (c) whether such limitation efforts are successful in the Pfizer ad you watched. For assessing the success of such limitation efforts, you will want to think about the power relationship between the message creator (Pfizer) and the audience for the ad. Your essay should be professionally structured (introduction, body, conclusion) and written according to the rubric provided (rubric is found on p. 2). *In defining, explaining, and differentiating propaganda versus persuasion, course materials must be cited. This can include the Borchers’ textbook, the recorded lectures from myself or Dr. Scacco, and the supplemental readings. The course and its assignments are designed for students to closely engage course materials. Failure to cite course materials as you define and differentiate key concepts will result in a 0 for the submission. Remember, propaganda and persuasion in Communication are not common knowledge concepts, therefore they need proper citations.
Introduction• Includes a clear preview of the argument of the essay and main points• Introduces course concepts that may be referenced• Introduces the advertisement5 pointsBody• Main points clearly stated, developed, and integrated into the broaderdirection/argument of the essay.• Includes a definition and explanation of what propaganda is and howit is different from persuasion, how FDA standards and the Pfizer adare designed to limit propagandistic influence, and whether suchlimitation efforts are successful in the ad.• Includes material support from class lectures, discussions, and/orreadings.15 pointsConclusion• Reviews direction/argument of the essay and main points5 pointsMechanicsIn-text citations, additional sources cited in APA style• Professional spelling, grammar, and punctuation• Double-spaced, 1” margins, 12-point, Times NR font, 600-750 words5 pointsEssay Prompt: Read "The Basics of Drug AdsLinks to an external site." from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Then, watch this "Paxlovid" adLinks to an external site. sponsored by Pfizer (found below):
ALSO: Caught in the Propaganda CrossfireLinks to an external site.
In the video "Caught in the Propaganda Crossfire," the presenter explains that automated bots attempt to manipulate opinion by shaping online information environments through amplificiation (attention/visibility), distribution (increased reach), and flooding (coordinated spamming). Based on the video and class conversations, which of these functions (amplification, distribution, flooding) do you think is most important to how bots attempt to influence people in digital spaces? Explain why. Answer this in 50-100 words.