Difference between revisions of "Teleprompter"
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A '''teleprompter''' is an [[electronic]] imaging system that enables speakers and newscasters to look into the [[television]] camera (or at a live audience) and read the text of prepared remarks without the viewers realizing it. It operates like a one-way mirror, with the reflection of text scrolling on the screen for the speaker and the viewers seeing through the text like a [[transparent]] mirror. | A '''teleprompter''' is an [[electronic]] imaging system that enables speakers and newscasters to look into the [[television]] camera (or at a live audience) and read the text of prepared remarks without the viewers realizing it. It operates like a one-way mirror, with the reflection of text scrolling on the screen for the speaker and the viewers seeing through the text like a [[transparent]] mirror. | ||
| − | President [[Barack Obama]] has had difficulty speaking without the assistance of a teleprompter, making frequent bloopers and saying embarrassing things.<ref>http://www.teleprompterobama.com/</ref> Specifically, President Obama is essentially unable to give a coherent speech or run a press conference unless he can read from a teleprompter. As Vice President Biden | + | President [[Barack Obama]] has had difficulty speaking without the assistance of a teleprompter, making frequent bloopers and saying embarrassing things.<ref>http://www.teleprompterobama.com/</ref> Specifically, President Obama is essentially unable to give a coherent speech or run a press conference unless he can read from a teleprompter. As Vice President Biden jokingly observed:<ref>http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74027.html</ref> |
{{cquote|What am I going to tell the president when I tell him his teleprompter is broken? '''''What will he do then?'''''}} | {{cquote|What am I going to tell the president when I tell him his teleprompter is broken? '''''What will he do then?'''''}} | ||
Revision as of 23:22, March 26, 2012
A teleprompter is an electronic imaging system that enables speakers and newscasters to look into the television camera (or at a live audience) and read the text of prepared remarks without the viewers realizing it. It operates like a one-way mirror, with the reflection of text scrolling on the screen for the speaker and the viewers seeing through the text like a transparent mirror.
President Barack Obama has had difficulty speaking without the assistance of a teleprompter, making frequent bloopers and saying embarrassing things.[1] Specifically, President Obama is essentially unable to give a coherent speech or run a press conference unless he can read from a teleprompter. As Vice President Biden jokingly observed:[2]
| “ | What am I going to tell the president when I tell him his teleprompter is broken? What will he do then? | ” |
Historical use of Teleprompters
It was first popularized by former President Herbert Hoover at a Republican national convention, when he gave the secret away by complaining to a national audience that the teleprompter needed to restart the scrolling of the text after he paused to improvise. But Republican Presidents rarely used teleprompters at press conferences, as Obama does.
Another advantage of the telemprompter is that it serves as a reminder of the pronounciation of names and places. This was occasionally used by President George W. Bush for names such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy (sar-KO-zee) and Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe (moo-GAH-bee), as well as countries such as Kyrgyzstan (KEYR-geez-stan).[3]