Penetration of Axis propaganda

Although direct listening to Axis shortwave broadcasts is infrequent in this country, broadcast materials are circulated second-hand. The authors attempted to measure the degree of penetration of such propaganda by means of a modified public opinion sampling technique. 400 persons in New York City and 400 in Boston were interviewed. Each was shown 5 statements, 4 of which originated in Axis shortwave broadcasts, and was asked for each statement (1) whether he had heard or seen it in the past few weeks, (2) whether he believed it, and (3) where he had heard or read it. 22.8% of the persons sampled had heard one or more of the rumors; 23.4% believed one or more of them. The average rumor was heard by 6.8% of the interviewees and believed by 6.6% of them. Both circulation and acceptance of the rumors were greater (1) in New York City than in Boston, (2) among lower income groups than among upper income groups, (3) among persons over 45 than among younger persons, (4) among Jews than among non-Jews, (5) among Catholics than among protestants. There were no reliable sex differences. "Newspapers were given most often as a source of rumors and people (word of mouth) next. Radio was seldom mentioned as a source."