My professor at Arizona State University for a class I am taking in Media and Public Affairs asked me the following question, "How will the media play a vital role in the 2012 elections and subsequent elections? Please provide thoughtful examples of how the media may influence the outcome of the next general election." To professor Dana Berchman the answer I have constructed is in a blog as follows:
In 1789 the first presidential election of the United States took place putting into office the Father of Our Country George Washington as president. Since Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press which ushered in the era of the modern newspaper occurred in 1447, there has never been an election in this country that the media did not play a role in. Over the years the media has evolved and so has the use of it by political candidates. Forward looking to 2012 I also look back and see how campaign media has gone from ink on newsprint to persuasive voices on radio to compelling images on television and the Internet. There is a story told by the media that is sometimes fact and sometimes fiction; whether projecting fantasy or reality", the media has been somewhat of a leading lady in the drama I like to call "Camp Pain".
Political candidates have setup camp in the news media as they work to establish themselves in hopes of becoming the next political victor. Every political victor must first be a political vector, and alongside the gladness of glory there is always the pain of the campaign. The pain I speak of is the agony of a merciless agenda, the scrutiny of the spotlight, and the critical analysis of the American public. For all political candidates especially those involved in a presidential election being in the media means having to put your best foot forward even when you're at your worse, having to deal with controversies gingerly while displaying competence and charisma, and knowing how to strategically and tactically leverage your media coverage.
In the 2012 and all subsequent elections the media will play the role it has always played. Holding the power of mass communication in its hands, the media will broadcast advertisements for those running for office in their favor, it will report authentic news about their lives, who they are, and what positions they take on issues based upon their beliefs, and it will attempt to inform the American public on the attributes of the candidates to help them make a decision on who they should vote for. The media is almost like a third invisible running mate for presidential candidates. Television will be used as always just like newspapers will be used, and now the advertising options, broad partisan appeal, and power of social media communities on the Internet will be widely adopted and applied for campaign success through mass media.
With free media comes the influence many are bound by. The outcome of the 2012 general election will with no doubt be influenced my the media. The next president of the United States will most likely be a candidate that has survived the press of the press, received the positive media coverage that helps to secure votes, and has used the many facets of media to their advantage in establishing their political brand. Below I have posted videos and commentary on political media influence and I've also posted some ads for the 2012 U.S. presidential election/general election. The media may influence the outcome of the 2012 general election with persuasive advertising messages that tap into the human psyche, images that shape the human perspective, stories that arouse human emotion, and campaign coverage that profiles the negative and positive aspects of the candidates showing that they are indeed only human.
Murdoch of Fox News Admits Manipulating the News for Agenda
Fox News - Media Control over election process
In the following video about media control over the election process Bill Moyers says that to Rupert Murdock, "Politicians become little clay pigeons to be picked off with flattering headlines, generous airtime, a book contract, or the old fashioned black jack that never misses, campaign cash." Veteran journalist Bill Moyers goes on to talk about how ruthless and powerful Rupert Murdock is and what this type of power can do when it comes to media influence.
First Obama 2012 Ads - JoinObama.com: A Movement Starts With You, call (888) 705-0047
In this ad Obama talks about how everyone can make a difference and states, "It starts with you." Obama makes a moderate plea for people to join his movement, and he asks people to call a number so that he can know their name.
Misleading Romney Ad Draws Criticism for Distorting Obama's Words
"Let the games begin!" Romney started his campaign with an ad that quoted President Obama out of context. I didn't know mud would fly this early. Did Romney really think the truth regarding his ad would not come to light?
Vote for the Principles that once made our country great: Ron Paul 2012
In this ad Ron Paul proclaims, "I am the champion of the constitution." This ad is fueled by patriotism and emotion. The background music sets the mood of the ad and Ron Paul even uses an image of himself composed of the faces of the public laid over the constitution of the United States. I think it is a powerful ad that quietly yet profoundly addresses unity, community, justice, and family.
Herman Cain 2012 Presidential Campaign Ad
Herman Cain's ad starts off by talking about political scandals which is funny considering he is dealing with a few scandals of his own right now. The ad talks about pursuing the American Dream and states that he is a new voice for America. Before America chooses Herman Cain to help facilitate the American Dream they must first know who it is they are getting in bed with.
Rick Perry 2012
This ad for Rick Perry for president is what I call all drama and no depth. There is nothing in this ad that gives anyone a reason to vote for him. What a waste of campaign money. See for yourself.
Michele Bachmann: Television Ad: "Waterloo"
Michele Bachmann gives a lot of information about herself in this ad and about what she won't do, but she doesn't say what she will do.
I'm going to stop right here even though there are a lot of other 2012 campaign ads out there and many other candidates that I didn't evaluate here. I just wanted to share a little bit with you about how media influence is everywhere, especially lurking around every corner of American politics. The media continues to be a place where the names have not been changed to protect the innocent nor the guilty, but sometimes the stories have been changed to influence both. Striving to impose a positive influence are the words Deneene Says...
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