Propaganda Technique: Ad Hominem
A Latin phrase that has come to mean attacking one’s opponent, as opposed to attacking their arguments.
Annastacia Palaszczuk
When the media does not like a politician, they use derp photos of them. Ugly, emotive, unprofessional imagery to play into audience stereotypes. An article used the word ‘flaccid’ to describe the premier’s response to ‘youth crime’. One’s mind boggles at the use of a word that is commonly used to describe the hardness of a penis?
Katarina Carroll
Next the Police Commissioner became the target, with derp photos and an intense focus on her femininity suggesting she is too soft for a leadership role. Contrasting imagery of the replacement showed strong jawlines and dark eyes, further highlighting their personal differences and suggesting his different ‘tough’ personal qualities will fix the problems caused by her ‘soft’ personal qualities.
Steven Miles
The most intense campaign of all was saved for the interim premier, nicknamed “Giggles” by Sky News who relentlessly pushed an untrue story. The Sky journalist claimed that Miles laughed about a victim of ‘youth crime’, to discredit him in the eyes of the community. Multiple propaganda techniques were used in unison to ridicule Steven Miles, the lie picked up by other media outlets despite evidence showing he did not laugh at a victim.
Media clips emasculating Steven Miles
This section highlights a collection of media clips showing how Sky, News Ltd and Seven used the false story claiming that Steven Miles laughed at a victim of ‘youth crime’ to attack his character and ridicule him to the Queensland voters.
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