We’re constantly told what’s happening. Rarely are we told how the story is being shaped.

This interactive workshop by Sydney Ziems of Shadowbanned Magazine breaks down how media outlets frame narratives, choose language, and shape public perception. Together, we analyze headlines, compare coverage of the same events, and practice spotting bias, omission, and spin in real time.

Participants will also rewrite stories themselves to see how easily a narrative can shift.

History of Media & Propaganda: From Edward Bernays to Now

This section briefly introduces the historical foundation of media manipulation, moving from early propaganda and mass messaging to the rise of public relations and psychological persuasion. The discussion highlights the influence of Edward Bernays and the concept of “engineering consent,” which reframed media as a tool for shaping public opinion. The conversation then connects this history to today’s media landscape, including consolidation, the 24-hour news cycle, and algorithm-driven distribution. This context helps participants understand that narrative shaping is not new, but an evolving practice.

Same Story, Different Reality

Participants review multiple headlines covering the same event and analyze how tone, language, and emphasis shift meaning even when the underlying facts remain similar. The group discusses what emotional cues are being used, who is centered in the story, and what context may be missing. This exercise demonstrates how narrative framing operates in practice and introduces the idea that perception is shaped through selective emphasis.

The Tools of Narrative Manipulation

This section introduces a practical framework for identifying common techniques used to shape public perception. Participants learn how framing, language bias, selective sourcing, omission, and false balance function across different types of media. Examples are discussed collectively to illustrate how these tools appear in headlines, articles, and social media posts. The focus is on developing a shared vocabulary for analyzing media structure.

Deconstructing the Feed

Participants break into small groups to analyze real-world media examples, including articles, headline sets, or viral posts. Each group identifies the narrative being constructed, emotional cues embedded in language, missing context, and who benefits from the framing. This hands-on exercise allows participants to apply the framework introduced earlier and practice recognizing manipulation in real time.

Rewrite the Narrative

Participants reframe a single headline in multiple ways, shifting tone and perspective to demonstrate how easily narratives can change. By rewriting the same story from different angles, the group observes how language, emphasis, and context reshape meaning. This exercise reinforces the idea that narrative construction is intentional and flexible.

Resources:

• ​Manufacturing Consent
• ​Inventing reality: the politics of news media
• ​Propaganda (book)
• ​Crystallizing Public Opinion

​“We are governed, our minds are molded, our tastes formed, our ideas suggested, largely by men we have never heard of.” ― Edward Bernays

Sydney Ziems is a designer, writer, editor, and cultural organizer working at the intersection of media, power, and design. As the founder of Shadowbanned Magazine and its publishing arm Shadowbanned Press, she blends visual language and critical analysis to interrogate systems of power and culture.

Index scholarships are designed to benefit members of our community who do not have expendable cash to pay for the course, and those for whom the class price is not accessible. These need-based scholarships will go to the candidates who best demonstrate why they should be chosen for the free spot to our class based on the following criteria:

• Belong to groups that are traditionally underrepresented in the graphic design and creative industries
• Do not have jobs that would pay for these courses as professional development
• Cannot independently afford the class at list price
• Share our value of intentional community

The number of selected applicants chosen is subject to the discretion of Index and the instructor, but every course will select at least one. Apply for a scholarship here. Applications close May 27th.

We get that things come up, but we rely on headcounts make our programs viable. If you request a refund...

More than 4 weeks before the program begins → 100% refund

More than 2 weeks before the program begins → 50% refund

Fewer than 2 weeks before the program begins → No refund

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