Manipulation techniques used by the Polish state media: a case study of the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan

Abstract

This paper aims to show what manipulation techniques were used by the public media in Poland when presenting information about the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan. The study uses qualitative source analysis to gather data necessary and sufficient to answer the research questions, which are: how did the public media present the Taliban offensive in Afghanistan? What manipulation techniques were used? This paper begins by presenting the context of the study, in which the definition of the public broadcaster and its mission are presented. Next, the choice of the research field is justified and the theoretical tool of typology of manipulation techniques is presented. Then, the methodological assumptions are explained and a qualitative content analysis is conducted. The analysis reveals that the aim of public television was not to falsify information on the events taking place in Afghanistan. The manipulation techniques were used to discredit the decisions made by the U.S. government, to improve the image of the Polish government, and of the former U.S. president. In addition, these techniques were used to discourage Polish citizens from refugees from Afghanistan, and also to show them as dangerous.