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| | *the "narrative": this refers to the basic story line that a politician wants to make as favorable as possible to his image or candidacy. Elections are won or lost based on a candidate's ability to get his own "narrative" in the media, rather than allowing his opponent to present that narrative in a less favorable way. | | *the "narrative": this refers to the basic story line that a politician wants to make as favorable as possible to his image or candidacy. Elections are won or lost based on a candidate's ability to get his own "narrative" in the media, rather than allowing his opponent to present that narrative in a less favorable way. |
| | *"political capital": this term is taken from the financial world, where "capital" refers to how much someone has to spend and invest. "Political capital" refers to how much support a politician has obtained, through an election or perhaps a momentous event like winning a war, which the politician can then "spend" by pushing bills through Congress. An example is how Obama spent his political capital obtained in the 2008 election by enacting ObamaCare. | | *"political capital": this term is taken from the financial world, where "capital" refers to how much someone has to spend and invest. "Political capital" refers to how much support a politician has obtained, through an election or perhaps a momentous event like winning a war, which the politician can then "spend" by pushing bills through Congress. An example is how Obama spent his political capital obtained in the 2008 election by enacting ObamaCare. |
| | + | *"civil rights": this term usually applies to rights guaranteed by the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendment, particularly rights against racial and other kinds of discrimination |
| | + | *"caucus": this was one of President John Adams' favorite words, and it refers to the process of a group of knowledgeable people, as opposed to the entire public, gathering together to nominate a candidate for public office. During the process to select Mitt Romney as the Republican Party nominee for president, one of the first steps was the "Iowa caucuses," whereby Republican Party participants met in large halls around the State to choose among candidates. |
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| | == Newspaper endorsements == | | == Newspaper endorsements == |
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| | Surprise endorsements can be particularly helpful, as occurred this past Sunday when the ''Des Moines Register'', a major newspaper in the key swing state of Iowa, endorsed Mitt Romney for president. This was the first time that newspaper had endorsed a Republican for president in 40 years. Indeed, all four leading newspapers in Iowa endorsed Romney, despite how newspapers tend to prefer a Democrat instead. If the Romney campaign uses these surprise newspaper endorsements new political ads in Iowa, then that could affect thousands of voters there, and shift enough voters to Romney's side to win that key State and its 6 electoral votes. | | Surprise endorsements can be particularly helpful, as occurred this past Sunday when the ''Des Moines Register'', a major newspaper in the key swing state of Iowa, endorsed Mitt Romney for president. This was the first time that newspaper had endorsed a Republican for president in 40 years. Indeed, all four leading newspapers in Iowa endorsed Romney, despite how newspapers tend to prefer a Democrat instead. If the Romney campaign uses these surprise newspaper endorsements new political ads in Iowa, then that could affect thousands of voters there, and shift enough voters to Romney's side to win that key State and its 6 electoral votes. |
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| | + | == Letters to the Editor == |
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| | + | Though newspapers are the most liberal part of the media, they often welcome letters to the editor. Writing a letter to the editor of a newspaper is as easy as sending an email. The newspaper's website will have a link for "letters to the editor," or "reader feedback," or something similar, which provides an email address for sending a "letter to the editor." |
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| | == Television in the 1960s through 1980s == | | == Television in the 1960s through 1980s == |
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| − | [[Radio]] had been very important during the [[Great Depression]] and [[World War II]], but it faded in importance as [[television]] rose to popularity. By the late 1960s and through the 1980s, [[television]] enjoyed more power in influencing the public than all other [[media]] combined. Most [[American]]s felt that if something was on [[TV]], then it must be true.
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| − | With its enormous power, however, came gradual bias. Network [[television]] was not content simply to report to the public. It increasingly wanted to influence the public, and shape its views. It wanted to become more powerful than even the [[president]].
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| | By the late 1960s, the [[Vietnam War]] was raging in Southeast [[Asia]] and college protests were prominent in [[America]]. The [[media]] began covering the [[war]] as no other [[war]] had been seen before. Gory and disturbing pictures of violence and [[death]] on the battlefield were piped into millions of [[American]] homes. Public opinion shifted because of it. | | By the late 1960s, the [[Vietnam War]] was raging in Southeast [[Asia]] and college protests were prominent in [[America]]. The [[media]] began covering the [[war]] as no other [[war]] had been seen before. Gory and disturbing pictures of violence and [[death]] on the battlefield were piped into millions of [[American]] homes. Public opinion shifted because of it. |
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| − | [[Lyndon B. Johnson|President Johnson]] lost his popularity and could not be reelected in 1968, and [[Richard Nixon]] won the [[White House]]. He knew the power of [[television]], having used it to his advantage in addressing allegations against him in his Checkers speech in 1952. In 1960, [[Richard Nixon]] lost his [[president]]ial race to [[John F. Kennedy|JFK]] largely because [[John F. Kennedy|JFK]] looked better in the [[Kitchen Debates|televised presidential debates]].
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| | By 1973, it was time for [[television]] to beat [[Richard Nixon]] again. [[Congress]] instituted hearings about the [[Watergate scandal]], and daily televised coverage gradually turned the public against [[Richard Nixon]]. Hours and hours of televised coverage featuring critics of [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] eventually forced him to resign. [[Television]] proved that it had the power to cause the first presidential resignation in [[history]]. | | By 1973, it was time for [[television]] to beat [[Richard Nixon]] again. [[Congress]] instituted hearings about the [[Watergate scandal]], and daily televised coverage gradually turned the public against [[Richard Nixon]]. Hours and hours of televised coverage featuring critics of [[Richard Nixon|President Nixon]] eventually forced him to resign. [[Television]] proved that it had the power to cause the first presidential resignation in [[history]]. |
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| | Some in [[television]] still hold a grudge against [[Ronald Reagan]], however. In about a month, [[CBS]] will air a “docu-drama” designed to embarrass him with distortions and outright lies. Protests and perhaps a boycott of advertisers are expected from those who support him. | | Some in [[television]] still hold a grudge against [[Ronald Reagan]], however. In about a month, [[CBS]] will air a “docu-drama” designed to embarrass him with distortions and outright lies. Protests and perhaps a boycott of advertisers are expected from those who support him. |
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| − | == [[Newspaper]]s ==
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| − | As important as [[television]] has been, [[newspaper]]s remain enormously influential. They were a big cause for the [[Spanish-American War]], and have played a key role in every [[war]] ever since. [[Television]] news producers look at [[newspaper]]s to decide what stories to cover and run.
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| − | The major [[newspaper]]s are overwhelming liberal. (Does this refer to news coverage or the political opinions of the editorial boards of the papers? [[User:GregG|GregG]] 10:04, 24 October 2012 (EDT)) The only [[conservative]] papers in the country are the ''[[New York Post]]'', the ''[[New York Sun]]'', the ''[[Washington Times]]'', and small-town papers. (What about ''The Wall Street Journal'' [known for its very conservative editorial page] or the ''Chicago Tribune'' [the paper former Democratic Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich tried to extort in order to publish opinions more favorable to him]? [[User:GregG|GregG]] 21:39, 24 October 2012 (EDT))In [[New Jersey]], every single major newspaper endorsed [[Democrat]] [[Jim McGreevey]] for governor. And he used those endorsements to his great advantage in his [[campaign]] ads.
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| − | However, the influence of [[newspaper]]s has been declining. With each passing year, fewer people subscribe to [[newspaper]]s. In old days, the family breakfast at home with the paper has been replaced with a less structured schedule. The availability of instantaneous, in-depth news over the [[Internet]] lessens the [[demand]] for [[newspapers]]. Why not obtain up-to-date news when you want it, rather than read stale news in the papers?
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| − | Prominent [[newspapers]], like the ''[[New York Times]]'', are also notorious in filtering news rather than reporting it. “All the News that’s Fit to Print” is the slogan of the ''New York Times'', but in fact it carefully screens news from its subscribers. Its front page will feature stories that are days or weeks old, delayed or even rejected to created a political balance desired by the editors.
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| − | Stories about how [[gun]]s have stopped [[crime]] and saved lives, for example, are unlikely ever to appear in major [[newspaper]]s. [[Fallacy|Fallacies]] in theories of [[evolution]] or population control or other icons of [[humanism]] are screened from major [[newspaper]]s.
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| − | [[Abortion]] is an issue subjected to tremendous [[bias]] in [[newspaper]]s and most [[television]] [[program]]s.
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| − | [[Newspaper]]s print [[letter]]s to the [[editor]], though some are careful not to print anything too [[conservative]] or embarrassing to the [[paper]]. The ''New York Times'' is notorious for screening any letters that discredit its own views. (Is this an unsupported accusation [which should be labeled as such] or is there evidence that such face-saving screening occurs? [[User:GregG|GregG]] 09:55, 25 October 2012 (EDT))
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| − | == The Rise of Radio ==
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| − | Television reigned supreme for several decades, and by the 1980s had completely eclipsed radio in influence. Most news radio stations had been replaced by sports or rock music. Many were losing money. Some Christian radio stations could be found in the South.
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| − | A fellow by the name of Rush Limbaugh, originally from Missouri, had a popular talk show in Florida. He advocated conservative principles in an entertaining manner, frequently mocking his liberal opponents.
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| − | Slowly he garnered national attention, and moved his show to New York City. From there, he began to “syndicate” by making his daily talk show available to any station nationwide. In some cities, stations signed up immediately, while others (like Washington, D.C.) initially did not have any stations willing to carry Limbaugh’s conservative message.
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| − | But he caught on like wildfire, and by 1992 had an enormous audience. He was considered influential in causing the conservative political victories in 1994, and again in 2000 and 2002. By now, he has many conservative imitators competing against him in certain cities. Sean Hannity and others have similar shows now.
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| − | In the process, radio grew immensely in popularity. It is, once again, a major political force.
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| − | Ronald Reagan, though a master of television, was pleased by the reemergence of radio. Much of Reagan’s early work was on radio. In fact, he began his career as a baseball announcer over radio. As president, he instituted the weekly Saturday radio address that has been imitated by every president since.
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| − | It was, in fact, President Reagan who abolished the fairness doctrine. At the time, many conservatives thought the fairness doctrine was necessary to force the media to give both sides of an issue. But abolishing it allowed the rise of conservative talk radio.
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| − | It was before one of Reagan’s weekly radio addresses that he jokingly said he was bombing the communist Soviet Union: “My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in five minutes.” His political opponents obtained a copy of the tape and criticized him harshly for the joke. However, he never backed down from his political humor.
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| | == The Internet == | | == The Internet == |
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| − | By the late 1990s, an entirely new media emerged: the internet. Matt Drudge was an early pioneer with his “www.drudgereport.com” website. It now receives 4 million visits per day, all hungry for news information.
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| − | The internet may still be in its infancy in terms of influence. But its impact has already been immense. The impeachment of President Clinton was due entirely to the internet, as Matt Drudge published the incriminating information to the world after it had been withheld for political reasons by newspapers and television.
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| − | By the presidential election in 2000, millions of Americans were obtaining their news from the internet. Even television began taking its cue from the internet, following and repeating stories that first appeared there. When Bush and Gore held their televised presidential debates, polls indicated that almost no voters were influenced by them. Indeed, Gore apparently won the first and last debates, yet lost the election. The internet has taken hold of voters.
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| − | While conservatives greatly expanded their influence through the internet in the late 1990s, President Bush appears to be uninterested or even slightly opposed to it. He has not used it to disseminate information or raise money. Rather, President Bush has felt that controlling and withholding information is a better approach for him. Everything from Vice President Cheney’s task force on energy to memoranda connected with 9/11 have been withheld from the public, and litigation is occurring to force disclosures of that information.
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| − | The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is an important tool for the public to force disclosure of government documents, which can then be posted on the internet. The photographs of Vincent Foster, a top aide to President Clinton who surprisingly died in 1993, are being withheld from the government and are the subject of a case before the Supreme Court now. I filed an amicus curiae brief in the case, and media organizations later filed a brief on our side (in favor of disclosure). Oral arguments in the case will be on December 3, 2003, in Washington, D.C.
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| − | The candidate who is using the internet the most in running for president is former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. He has amazingly leapt to the head of the pack of Democratic contenders, almost entirely on the strength of his internet-based campaign. He has raised far more campaign contributions than his Democratic competitors through the internet.
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| | == Homework == | | == Homework == |