Spin (public relations)

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In public relations, spin is a usually pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favor of an event or situation; it is a euphemism for propaganda. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics. Politicians are often accused of spin by their political opponents.

Because of the frequent association between "spin" and press conferences (especially government press conferences), the room in which these take place is sometimes described as a spin room. A group of people who develop spin may be referred to as "spin doctors" who engage in "spin doctoring" for the person or group that hired them.

1 Overview
2 See also
3 Fictional Spin Doctors
4 References
5 External links

Overview

The techniques of spin include:

Selectively presenting facts and quotes that support one's position (cherry picking)
Non-denial denial
Phrasing in a way that assumes unproven truths
Euphemisms to disguise or promote one's agenda

Another spin technique involves the delay in the release of bad news so it can be hidden in the "shadow" of more important or favorable news or events. A famous reference to this practice occurred when UK government press officer Jo Moore used the phrase It's now a very good day to get out anything we want to bury in an email sent on September 11, 2001, following the attacks on the World Trade Center.^[1] When this email was reported in the press it caused widespread outrage for which Moore was forced to apologize.^[2] She was later made to resign when it was claimed she had sent a similar email following the death of Princess Margaret.^[3]

Skilled practitioners of spin are sometimes called "spin doctors", though probably not to their faces unless it is said facetiously. It is the PR equivalent of calling a writer a "hack." Perhaps the most well-known person in the UK often described as a "spin doctor" is Alastair Campbell, who was involved with Tony Blair's public relations between 1994 and 2003, and also played a controversial role as press relations officer to the British and Irish Lions rugby union side during their 2005 tour of New Zealand.

The Americans talk and radio show-host Bill O'Reilly calls his show the No Spin Zone to emphasize his dislike of the phenomenon, although the show itself has been accused of epitomizing spin.

State-run media in many countries also engage in spin by only allowing news stories that are favorable to the government while censoring anything that could be considered critical.

Fictional Spin Doctors

Nick Naylor - Protagonist of Christopher Buckley's bestseller Thank You for Smoking.
Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty in the American sitcom Spin City.
Malcolm Tucker - enforcer from Number 10 in the BBC comedy The Thick of It.
Conrad Brean - hired to save a presidential election in Wag the Dog.