From my understanding, China's model of media control focuses more on dillution and distraction than on overt censorship.
Both exist. But the larger effort is put into distraction.
The recent Russian model is more on bullshit and subverting notions of trust entirely.
American propaganda seems largely based on a) what sells and b) promoting platitudes, wishful thinking, and c) (at least historically) heart-warming (rather than overtly divisive) notions of nationalism.
The c) case is now trending more toward divisive and heat-worming.
Yes, censorship and propaganda go hand in hand. In 1922 Walter Lippmann wrote in his seminal work, Public Opinion,
> Without some form of censorship, propaganda in the strict sense of the word is impossible. In order to conduct a propaganda there must be some barrier between the public and the event. [1] [2]
Both exist. But the larger effort is put into distraction.
The recent Russian model is more on bullshit and subverting notions of trust entirely.
American propaganda seems largely based on a) what sells and b) promoting platitudes, wishful thinking, and c) (at least historically) heart-warming (rather than overtly divisive) notions of nationalism.
The c) case is now trending more toward divisive and heat-worming.