Director Owi Quote by Douglas Brinkley
““The popular director of OWI was Elmer Davis, an ex-CBS radioman with an admiration for the wire services and Murrow. Working closely with the Librarian of Congress, the poet Archibald MacLeish, who headed the Office of Facts and Figures, Davis believed that truth was the smartest type of propaganda. This was in stark contrast to the Axis nations, which banned opposition newspapers, censored stories, and screened every dispatch. Fortunately,””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Great War and Modern Memory, 1998
Davis saw truth as effective propaganda, contrasting with Axis censorship that suppressed dissent.
In simple terms: Truth can be powerful propaganda.
Key Takeaway
Use truth strategically.
Themes
propaganda
truth
media
war
censorship
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
historical
analytical
When to use this quote
- journalism
- government communication
- public persuasion
Key Concepts
information control
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can truth be protected from misuse?
- What responsibilities do media have?
A Different Perspective
Truth may be manipulated for harmful ends.
