Join LWVPRA, HCLL and Park Rapids Public Library for program on Propaganda

At a time when many people are worried about "fake news," "alternative facts" and conspiracies to brainwash the masses, guest speaker Jeff Nygaard will be talking about the media as a system and how that system functions to produce propaganda, often inadvertently. 

He will describe how the nature of media works to elevate certain ideas and ways of thinking and diminish others, which is the very definition of propaganda. Sometimes this happens simply by what is not said. Nygaard will also give "media self-defense" tactics, tactics that enable critical thinking about the news you read and hear.

But isn't everything different in the age of social media, when people can get news from a million different sources? Not really. Come and find out why that is true, and how propaganda really operates.

Nygaard will be the guest speaker for the Headwaters Center for Lifelong Learning program from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.. Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Park Theater. titled "21st Century Propaganda: Understanding Today's Media System." Nygaard, who has a working class background, is the author of "Nygaard Notes," an online newsletter and is a Star Tribune contributor.

The League of Women Voters of the Park Rapids Area along with the Park Rapids Library will host Nygaard in a follow-up program with a deeper dive into the subject from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at the Northwoods Bank Community Room.

League of Women Voters Park Rapids Area  (LWVPRA), a non-partisan volunteer organization, whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government and influence public policy through education and advocacy.  Please direct any questions about LWVPRA activities, events how to join LWVPRA ( remember it's not for women only) by emailing  lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org. Follow our activities, events on our website: http://lwvparkrapidsarea.blogspot.com/

Current Events Book Club is Changing its Focus

The past several years Beagle and Wolf Books and LWV Park Rapids Area have co-sponsored a book group that focused on non fiction books with current relevant topics.  This Fall we are changing the concept a bit.   We will still read non fiction books that emphasizing exploring current issues in order to better understand these complex issues.  Our society has become so polarized that our goal is to hope this understanding will promote discussions that solve problems instead of driving people apart. 

Our first book in September will be about propaganda which will also be the topic of an HCLL program in the afternoon and a LWV PRA program in the evening of September 26th. (watch for further announcements)
Then in October we will start to read a book called One Nation Undecided by Peter H Schuck.  This book has one chapter on each of these topics: Poverty, immigration, Campaign Finance, Affirmative Action and Religious Exemptions from Laws. The plan is to discussion one chapter a month. According to Schuck the book is about, "hard public issues and how Americans should think about them before deciding where they stand."

• Sept 16:      Propaganda by Edward Bernays
• Oct  21:       A Chapter of One Nation Undecided
• Nov 18:      Not a Scientist by Dave Levitan
• Dec 16:      A Chapter of One Nation Undecided
• Jan 20:       A Chapter of One Nation Undecided
• Feb 17:      A Chapter of One Nation Undecided
• March 17: A Chapter of One Nation Undecided

 

So please join us for the New Current Issues Book Club this Fall.  Our expectation is that people who are interested in a specific topic will come join the discussion that month. Everyone is welcome and you don't need to commit to the whole schedule or be a LWVPRA member. We meet the 3rd Saturday of each month at 5:30 pm at Beagle and Wolf Books on 3rd Street.
If you have questions email lwvparkrapids@lwvmn.org