The Ministry of Information Flashcards
What was the Ministry of Information?
The Ministry of Information was responsible for propaganda and censorship. It monitored public opinion through Mass Observation, which was an organisation which carried out surveys and reported on conversations in shops and pubs.
How did the MOI use posters to put a message across?
They encouraged people to join the voluntary service and work hard in order to help the war effort
They warned people about the dangers of ‘careless talk’. People were told not to discuss the war in public.
They encouraged people to save for the war effort and not to waste food and other resources.
How did the MOI use films to put a message across?
Films generally sent a patriotic message, and the newsreels which were shown before the main film also did their bit to boost morale .
What did the MOI do to boost morale?
The Ministry published huge numbers of pamphlets, books, short information films and newsreels to ensure that the morale of the population did not diminish.
How were newspapers censored?
Journalists had to submit their articles to the censor before they were printed or transmitted.
They reported on the bombings but they concentrated on the heroism of the rescuers rather than the deaths and injuries to keep morale high.
How did the BBC influence British people?
The BBC censored itself and helped to keep up morale:
It turned Dunkirk from a military disaster into a morale-boosting triumph.
By the end of the war, an estimated 25 million people tuned into BBC radio programmes.
What other forms of communication were censored?
There was censorship on overseas mail – any sensitive material would be blacked out, cut out or returned to sender.
Telephone calls were subject to censorship.
