Introduction
Communication is an instrumental tool for influencing behavior, attitude, and opinions among individuals. Some people use it to spread power by adopting positive influence intended for specific outcomes from targeted audiences. Others adopt persuasive tactical skills aimed at spreading negative impact in public. Nevertheless, this discussion identifies persuasive communication depicted by the U.K. political leaders when making public statements on coronavirus (Covid-19) spread and mitigation. The ongoing pandemic has recorded a high mortality rate globally, requiring objective communication from all leaders with political, social, or economic outcomes (Swart et al., 2016). It is worth noting that arguments in communication entail responding to claims with supported justifiable reasons. Propaganda involves sharing or spreading false and inaccurate information to an audience with particular intentions from expected responses. Sharing unverified messages can result in uninformed decision-making among unsuspicious public members. Most importantly, propaganda spreads negative influence in communication intended to convince individuals to make the uninformed decisions based on invalid facts.
Illustration of Propaganda in Communication
Medical practitioners working in global healthcare institutions can determine outcome of patients. Health experts working for the National Health Service (NHS) across the U.K. have a social responsibility of mitigating the spread of Covid-19. However, a nurse in Scotland has been spreading false information regarding the use of masks and public vaccines. The NHS nurse claimed that face masks contribute substantially to the virus spread, hence should be avoided. Additionally, she associated vaccination of the pandemic as a plot entailing genocide. Health experts’ public communication during a pandemic can impact large-scale health outcomes among the individuals’ target audience (Lockwood, 2011). Unverified information spread fast across social media platforms, resulting in regressive public influence as evidenced in the U.K. Individuals persuaded to make an uninformed decision, most importantly, contribute significantly to adverse effect depicted in a decision-making process.
Nonetheless, I think that the NHS nurse was spreading propaganda based on fundamental principles of persuasive communication. In essence, a medical practitioner is an essential person as they willingly and professionally provide healthcare services to patients. As a result, they contribute to the NHS’s positive image by abiding the organization’s values and principles. The nurse should be aware of the public trust she has developed working at the national healthcare agency. The information used to persuade the public against practices that promote Covid-19 spread requires positive influence through communication (Lockwood, 2011). However, I think the nurse was spreading propaganda as there was no credible verification to support her claims on face masks and vaccines. International healthcare regulatory agencies have been actively cautioning public members against false information when implementing directives against the pandemic spread.
Illustration of Argumentation in Communication
Moreover, argumentation constitutes a communication practice involving two people responding to each other’s claims. Medical practitioners argue that reopening local economies without healthcare evaluation contributes to the Covid-19 spread. For instance, the CDC’s head has warned state authorities against relaxing restriction rules to reduce casualties of the virus during the festive season. I think the approach is a good illustration of argumentation as the statement issued can be genuinely questioned or challenged (Swart et al., 2016). For example, political leaders are reluctant to limit the movement of people as it affects their livelihoods. Unemployed persons face economic difficulties in meeting basic human needs, such as food, decent shelter, and education. Many individuals have lost their income sources leading to unprecedented poverty levels in developing nations. Consequently, argumentative communication is useful for ensuring accurate information for objective decision-making among individuals.
Illustration of Persuasive Communication
As highlighted earlier, persuasion is a useful tool for sharing information that enhances strategic decision-making among people. Individuals use the approach to convince others to take certain favorable actions with specific benefits. A suitable example of communication depicting persuasion entails a public statement issued by the U.K. authorities regarding the ongoing pandemic. For instance, the health secretary has urged public members to wear masks, ensure social distance, and frequent hand-washing. This information is easy to understand as individuals follow basic social and health guidelines used for persuasive purposes. Failing to adhere to social distance regulations by public members, for example, risks the threat of further spread to vulnerable populations. I think U.K.’s public communication against the virus best fits the definition of persuasion over propaganda or argumentation (Swart et al., 2016). The simple information shared in the communication is not propaganda supported by medical research concerning the spread of respiratory diseases. Most importantly, the guidelines provided are intended to persuade the public and not contradict medical or economic facts resulting from economies’ closing.
Conclusion
Fundamentally, persuasion communication is critical in determining positive outcomes through informed decision-making. The ongoing pandemic has resulted in many deaths and exposure to related chronic illnesses. Consequently, propaganda spread through social media platforms can be detrimental to the collective efforts to reduce the pandemic’s adverse outcomes. The NHS nurse who spread propaganda regarding face mask protection and vaccination faces legal action for misleading the public. It is objective that persuasion is adopted to influence decisions that determine health status among individuals. The U.K. health authorities have adopted strategic communication intended to influence the public on complying with Covid-19 regulations. Hence, objective communication should aim at influencing progressive decision making among public members through persuasion.
References
Lockwood, N. S. (2011). Communication modes, persuasiveness, and decision-making quality: A comparison of audio conferencing, video conferencing, and a virtual environment (Publication No. 3456480) [Doctoral dissertation]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.
Swart, P. D., Vlok, P. J., & Jooste, J. L. (2016). Broadening the influence of asset managers through the six principles of persuasion. South African Journal of Industrial Engineering, 27(2), 72-80. Web.