How public information helped win a world war—and what it means for understanding propaganda today.
This careful history explores the Committee on Public Information's work from 1917 to 1919, showing how words, pictures, and organized campaigns touched nearly every part of American life during the war.
This book reveals how the CPI organized a national information effort, from school programs and pamphlets to posters, films, and press coordination. It places the work in a broader discussion of democratic government, public opinion, and the power of coordinated messaging in times of crisis.
- How ideas were crafted to mobilize support for the war and unite diverse audiences.
- The roles of newspapers, educators, and mass media in shaping public perceptions.
- Key figures and milestones in the CPI, including the use of speeches, films, and print campaigns.
- How scholars and archivists analyzed the record to draw lessons for future national emergencies.
Ideal for readers of history, communication studies, and journalism who want a clear account of how wartime propaganda was organized and studied.