Final answer:
George Creel distinguished the CPI's efforts from typical propaganda by focusing on mobilizing public opinion through persuasive messaging around the moral cause of World War I, rather than censorship or authoritarian control. He utilized multimedia, public speeches, and nationalistic sentiment to garner support for the war effort.
Step-by-step explanation:
George Creel distinguished the work of the Committee on Public Information (CPI) from conventional propaganda by emphasizing its role in promoting a moral struggle for freedom over tyranny, rather than just preventing German expansion or protecting U.S. interests. Creel, a former journalist, was keen on using advertising principles and the power of persuasive messaging to mobilize public opinion in a way that supported the war effort during World War I. He wanted to ensure that Americans believed in the cause they were sacrificing for, and his approaches included producing various multimedia materials, training 'Four Minute Men' who gave brief pro-war speeches, and fostering '100 percent Americanism'.
His reluctance to utilize government censorship of the press was informed by his background. Instead, Creel's focus with the CPI was on mobilization and rallying support through carefully crafted messages and community engagement. The CPI aimed to present the war effort as a shared national endeavor rather than an exercise in authoritarian control, which was more common in other belligerent nations at the time.