In wartime, capturing the hearts and minds of the citizenry is arguably as important as victory on the battlefield. The Information Front explores the Canadian military’s use of public relations units to manage news during the Second World War. These specialized units were responsible for providing sufficient and positive news coverage to Canadians at home. This fascinating study traces the transformation of an emergent PR organization into an efficient publicity machine. It also scrutinizes news coverage and PR activities during major Canadian operations at Dieppe, Sicily, and Normandy to reveal how the military used censorship and propaganda to rally support for the war effort.

Timothy Balzer's profile page

Timothy Balzer has taught at the University of Victoria and for the Continuing Studies Division of the Royal Military College of Canada.

A thorough, balanced, and thoughtful examination of how the Canadian Army used censorship and propaganda to rally Canadians behind World War II.

Journalism History, 37:2 (Summer 2011)

A well-researched and well-thought out study of how the Army’s public relations apparatus functioned during the greatest war in Canadian history … Balzer’s is a most interesting book, a fine academic study that deserves a wide readership.

Canadian Military Journal, vol. 12, no. 2, Spring 2012