How do modern dictators typically govern their countries?

Dictators rely heavily on manipulating their citizens. Through constant propaganda and and typically lack of free press or any form of free speech like we have in the USA. One current example worth checking out is North Korea, there are incredibly troubling accounts from escaped "defectors". Check out at least one of these documentaries:

"Crossing the Line" - 2006

"Propaganda Game" - 2015

"Under the Sun" - 2015