How can we identify propaganda and publicity in Public relations?

Babji Yana's answer at Quora on 12th March 2019

Propaganda is something that is repeatedly propagated to modify the opinions of larger sections of people. It is a wilful action to influence people to think & behave in a manner desired by the source. Propaganda is generally associable with War (war propaganda), Religion (religious propaganda) and Politics (political propaganda) where there is less or no truth. Therefore, it is bad in PR, in Indian context.

Publicity, on the other, is to publicise or advertise through activities designed to rouse public interest. It is intended to promote - people, products, services - by way, generally, of campaigns.

One can easily mark out a propaganda if virtue or glittery, deification, testimonials, fear inducement, data distortion, misrepresentation of stats etc are used. Publicity can be seen in sectors like beauty & health products, corporate education, real estate, insurance and consumer goods etc

Not a PR practitioner, a commoner can tell what is Propaganda. The rest is Publicity.