BP Propaganda

1. Emeril Lagasse: Testimonial- They use a well known celebrity chef to talk about how the oil spill has affected many people in the Gulf
Fallacy- Argument from Omniscience- He talked about how the oil spill has affected people in all these different ways but he doesn't actually know. He only has a basic knowledge of these things, he's not a scientist or economist or anyone credible, which is why this is propaganda. They decieve you into thinking that he is a person that can give you credible information
2. Olympic Athletes: Transfer- They used a flag at the end to make people associate BP with America and patriotism, and show what BP can do for America
Fallacy- Ad Populum- They use the Olympian's stories to appeal to your emotions to get you to support BP rather than actual facts about their company. It deceiving you by making people think that BP can help you and America in someway
3. Commitment to America: Plain Folks - They showed normal people using the beach and the ocean for the things they like to do.
Fallacy- Observational Selection- It talks about all the good things BP has done, but it doesn't mention all the negative things, making people think that BP is such an amazing company even though they had just ruined the Gulf of Mexico a short time before
 4. Gulf Tourism: Glittering Generalities- They say that tourism is the best it's ever been. They also use other words like "great" or "better"
Fallacy- Appeal to Ignorance- We don't know how much tourism was there before because we don't know about tourism in the gulf, so we just have to trust that they are right. This is propaganda because they are tricking us into thinking that they caused all of this "better tourism"
5. Tony Hayward Commercial: Card Stacking- showing all the good things that BP has done and can do without mentioning all the bad things
Fallacy- Red Herring- Tony is trying to change the people's view of BP from the negative and change it to the positive, making them forget about all the bad things they have done. This is propaganda because they are deliberately messing with people's minds to make them thing BP is all good and can do no wrong.