Editing Propaganda

{{Status|Canon}}

[[File:ONI PC.jpg|thumb|200px|Benjamin Giraud doctoring his war photography for propaganda purposes.]]

'''Propaganda''' is any information which is disseminated for the purpose of influencing an audience in order to further a cause or agenda. Propaganda frequently selectively presents facts, half-truths, and lies, and is often emotionally charged. In form and content, propaganda can vary widely. It can range from simple slogans to sophisticated media such as visual arts, books, movies, and the like. It usually comprises signs and symbols which seek to simplify issues and remove nuances. Propaganda may be produced by governments as well as activist groups, religious organizations, corporations, the media, and other individual interests. Propaganda is especially common in [[War|wartime]], and may constitute part of [[Wikipedia:psychological warfare|psychological warfare]].

Propaganda plays a prominent role in the [[United Nations Space Command]]. UNSC propaganda is primarily meant to support the policies of the [[Unified Earth Government]] and increase recruitment for the [[United Nations Space Command]] armed forces. In [[2164]], during the [[Interplanetary War]], propaganda tactics helped to strongly bolster the nascent UNSC forces.{{Ref/Site|https://www.halopedia.org/Archive:Xbox.com/Halo/Timeline|Xbox.com|Halo Timeline}} Propaganda was also a common part of the environment of the [[Corbulo Academy of Military Science]].{{Ref/Film|H4FuD}} Propaganda could be found on UNSC ships{{Ref/Level|CE|The Pillar of Autumn}} and at [[UNSC recruiting center]]s.{{Ref/Level|ODST|Mombasa Streets}} UNSC propaganda presented the [[Epsilon Indi system]] as the farthest-flung system in [[human]] controlled space.{{Ref/Site|https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postsm2969317_Catalog-Interaction.aspx#post2969317|Halo Waypoint|Catalog Interaction (post 2969317)}} This reliance on propaganda could have its detriments, however; for example, prior to the [[Battle of Bliss]] in [[2526]] most [[Outer Colonies]] leaders dismissed the [[Covenant]] threat as merely propaganda.{{Ref/Game|HR|Dr. Halsey's personal journal}}

The [[Office of Naval Intelligence]] produces large amounts of propaganda. [[ONI Section Two]] is responsible for external communication and public morale, a role which in practice involves the creation and spread of propaganda.{{Ref/Site|D=28|M=2|Y=2021|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/factions/oni|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=ONI}} This includes overseeing the doctoring of war photography.{{Ref/Anthology|Halo Graphic Novel|Second Sunrise Over New Mombasa}} Much of its propaganda was designed to preserve the fiction that UNSC forces were holding their own against the Covenant.{{Ref/Novel|FS||98}} One of its most notable propaganda exercises was [[ONI Directive 930]], which mandated that all [[SPARTAN-II program|SPARTAN-II soldiers]] be listed as [[missing in action]] or [[wounded in action]] rather than [[killed in action]].{{Ref/Novel|FS|Chapter=27}} Legends which grew around the [[ORION Project]] supersoldiers following [[Operation: CHARLEMAGNE]] were utilized for ONI propaganda in the following decades.{{Ref/Book|Enc||44-45}} Similarly, the exploits of the SPARTAN-II supersoldiers were publicized in an effort to improve morale.{{ref/Novel|GoO||46}} The victories of Vice Admiral [[Preston Cole]] were also used for propaganda purposes.{{Ref/Novel|TFoR|15}}{{Ref/Anthology|Evo|The Impossible Life and the Possible Death of Preston J. Cole||414}} ONI propaganda stated that the UNSC won the [[Battle of Ballast]].{{Ref/Book|Enc|???}}

According to [[Petra Janecek]], the [[Press Corps]] is synonymous with the dissemination of propaganda.{{Ref/Novel|FS|Adjunct}} Journalist [[Benjamin Giraud]] was contracted in [[2558]] by ONI to create a propaganda piece on [[John-117]]; however, this effort ultimately backfired after Giraud began to uncover the truth of John's origins.{{Ref/Game|Hunt the Truth|Episode 00}}

[[Insurrectionist]]s are known to use propaganda. [[Serin Osman]] initially thought that the [[Far Isle rebellion|bombing of Far Isle]] was rebel propaganda before she read the relevant file.{{Ref/Novel|MorDi|10|291-292}} During the [[Draco III rebellion]] in [[2554]], [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers|ODST]] squad [[Alpha-Nine]] was ordered to avoid damaging the city of [[New Albany]] lest its destruction be used as anti-UEG propaganda.{{Ref/Novel|NB|???}}

Following the [[Human-Covenant War]], the group [[Sapien Sunrise]] spread propaganda opposing the 2558 [[Sangheili]] [[Raid on Biko peace talks|peace talks]] lead by [[Richard Sekibo]].{{Ref/Game|Hunt the Truth|Xenophobia}} In [[2553]], [[Forerunner]] [[ancilla]] [[Intrepid Eye]] established and controlled several propaganda outlets in an effort to prepare humanity to assume the [[Mantle]].{{Ref/Novel|Ret|16}}

==Covenant propaganda==