ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that propaganda had different effects on different target groups during World War I. World War I was one of the starting points of the globalization of modern public relations. The lessons from World War I were clear: public relations practitioners and politicians both knew how to create news that would be selected by journalists. German communications scientist Karl Bcher argues that the cable cutting intended to influence world public opinion by distributing lies about Germany, especially atrocity stories. Charles F. G. Masterman, a journalist and member of the Cabinet, became head of the British propaganda organization known as Wellington House. Wellington House was concerned with the production, translation, and distribution of books, pamphlets, government publications, and speeches. Thomas Masaryk labeled his own propaganda efforts as democratic because influencing public opinion was the main goal.
