Copaganda facts for kids

Copaganda is a word that describes how the media sometimes shows police officers in a very positive light. It means they focus on the good things police do. They might not show the difficult or negative parts of police work. This word is a mix of "cop" (for police officer) and "propaganda." Propaganda means information that is shared to make people think a certain way.

The term "copaganda" is often used by groups like Black Lives Matter. They believe that the media's positive portrayal of police doesn't always match the experiences of many people. This includes people from working class communities and different racial backgrounds. After big events like the George Floyd protests, more people started using this term. They use it to question how police are shown in movies, TV shows, and news.

What is Copaganda?

The word "copaganda" is fairly new. But the idea of showing police in a certain way has been around for a long time. For many years, TV shows and movies have often shown police as heroes. They are usually seen as always doing the right thing.

Copaganda in TV Shows and Movies

Many TV shows and movies are seen as examples of copaganda. These shows often focus on police officers solving crimes. They show police as brave and always successful. They might show police as the only ones who can keep communities safe.

• Focus on heroes: Characters are often shown as perfect heroes. They always catch the bad guys.
• Solving problems: Police are usually shown as the ones who fix all problems. They bring justice to everyone.
• Less focus on issues: These shows often do not show the challenges police face. They also might not show problems like police misconduct. They might not show how some communities feel about the police.

This way of showing police can make viewers think about law enforcement in a specific way. It can make people believe that police are always good. It can also make people think that police are the only answer to crime.

Images for kids

• 

  A 2015 ceremony at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.