So, writing an argument paper that is research based helps teach you how to do two things:
1. How to structure an argument
2. How to synthesize sources
So, I am putting a link in here to a synthesis essay from a past exam. I want you to follow the directions carefully, and write the essay into this blog post. Be sure to time yourself. You have 15 minutes to review the sources and choose which ones you will be using, and then 40 minutes to write the actual essay. We are looking for progress here, not perfection. Good luck!
Since the introduction of televisions In the 1960’s, elections have been made more accessible. Source A states that television could “inform and stimulate the political interests of the American electorate.” Television provides a direct link between the people and the happenings of the election. The people feel more involved and “in the know.” Television gives the people “immediate contact with political events.”
ReplyDeletePeople seemed to be optimistic with televisions being used to watch the debate, because, according to source D, 28.1 million homes watched the debate, and it had a rating of 59.5.
Television can also use the power of editing to make the debates easier to watch and less drawn out. As source F put it, “we were able to pull the best three or four minutes out of the ninety-minute event.
Although television can be good for immediate information when used correctly, television and other kinds of social media can distort their information to try and get people on one side or the other. As source B puts it, “Presidents are losing their distinctiveness as social actors and hence are often judged by standards formerly used to assess rock singers and movie stars.” The people may feel as if they know the candidates and do not feel they need guidance. Source C describes how the visuals and seeing the candidates affected the outcome of the debate and, in the long run, the election. According to source F, they could cut out most of the debates, making them easier to watch, however, they could cut out all of the good points made by the candidate that they do not like, influencing the people to vote for a specific candidate.
Television and other social medias can be good when used correctly to inform the public about each candidate equally, however, such power can be used to influence the people to vote for a specific candidate.
This is very well-written Marcie! I like how you were able to see both points of view and argue both. I definitely feel that arguing against television having a good impact was probably your strongest point.
DeleteThis essay was good; however, I felt your neutral stance took away from the whole idea of writing it in the first place. The assignment was to form an argument, and I feel the sources should be used to prove one idea or another, but because you chose to be neutral, you just listed the sources as they were and did not build upon them, losing originality.
DeleteGreat job on your essay Marcie! I enjoyed reading through it. I really liked your introduction sentence when you spoke about how television made the debates more accessible to the public.
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ReplyDeleteNear the end of the 1940s, television was created and when political events started being broadcasted, many believed that it would allow more information to be spread and would help people form their opinions. Television did not have a good effect on the presidential elections due to the famous individuals in the media and human nature.
ReplyDeleteThe more well-known people on the news sources had a huge impact on the results of the election, and it is not a good thing. Many individuals then and even today let the media rule their lives. An example of this is presented in Source E, “Johnson was a great believer in public opinion polls, and he knew that a recent poll had shown that the American people trusted Walter Cronkite more than any other American to ‘tell it the way it is.’” Walter Cronkite worked for CBS News. This statement itself shows the substantial effect that one famous individual can have on many. Even if Walter was wrong in his way of thinking, many people would believe everything he had to say blindly. This event even led to Johnson not trying to secure another four years as the President of the United States (Source E). If one well-known individual could cause such an occasion, it is quite obvious that television had a negative effect on the elections.
Human nature is another reason why television had a bad impact on the elections. The debates were televised, and a man named Theodore White had some interesting opinions on them. He said, “... that television had dumbed down the issues by forcing the candidates to respond to questions instantaneously… He also believed that Kennedy’s “victory” in the debates was largely a triumph of image over content (Source C).” Humans tend to be drawn to certain things, not because of what someone has to say but how they look saying it. These debates were between Richard Nixon and John Kennedy. According to Source C, Theodore White also noted that Nixon looked less pleasing to the eye than Kennedy. The way that one presents himself is something that humans dwell on, so this hurt Nixon’s chances of winning, even if his policies were better for the country.
Humans are easily manipulated, whether it be due to attraction or by prominent figures in society. Television actually had a negative impact on the elections because of the trusted and well-known people in the media and the way humans naturally are.
This is a very good essay Melaina! I like the way you presented your information. I also really liked how you talked about human nature. I enjoyed this!
DeleteGreat work Melaina! This is really well written and your argument is very convincing. I like your discussion of how popularity is a big influence.
DeleteGood essay Melaina, you did a great job of pointing out examples of Presidents using popularity for leverage.
DeleteI really liked your essay Melaina! I liked that you mentioned human nature and the media. Your sources were used well.
DeleteThe television was a revolutionizing invention when it was first introduced, and it has changed the way people love their lives. People go home and the first thing they do is turn on the television. People could watch the news and see what was going on in the world. Thanks to the television, Americans gained more exposure to politics, which allowed millions of people to be informed, and thus strengthening the war democratic process. The television made all Americans informed, and allowed for the nation to be united in ways that were never imagined.
ReplyDeleteIt is no secret that the television was successful, as society still constantly uses them today, and there is no sign of it slowing down. Even in the early sixties, television was amazingly popular as it allowed people access to otherwise hard to find news. According to source A, a total of 340 million people watched the presidential debates from 1976-1996. That is 340 million Americans more informed about the world around them. This, as a result, strengthened the democratic process. Since millions of Americans became conscious about issues going on in their lives, it allowed them to vote based on what they know and what the candidates know about those issues. By having access to television, Americans became more informed on candidates and their political ideas, which allowed all voters to make votes on actual knowledge, not guesses. This strengthened the democratic process. Television allowed for Americans to be more informed, and as a result democracy became a much better system because of it.
The advent of television allowed for Americans to become more engaged in politics. Mainstream television broadcasted political events, national events, or events of any kind. This allowed millions of people to become informed on happening in the country, and form more calculated opinions. According to source F, the main reason people knew how America was doing in the Vietnam War was because of the news. In this instance, everyone knew what was happening, and everyone was informed on what was going on straight from a reliable source. This allowed for everyone to know what was going on in the world. If over 300 million people watched the debates, then many more saw even bigger events on television. This allowed everyone to make their opinions based on reliability information, making everyone’s vote more important. Before, votes were based on gossip in the air, or the political party they were with, but that would only give vague details on a candidate. Now, television gives everyone an in-depth look at their candidate’s ideas, allowing people to vote with much more information than before, which in turn makes all votes based on accurate information. This allows votes to mean that much more. The television has allowed for people’s political knowledge to expand, making the democratic process better as a whole.
The presidential debate can be seen as a test of each candidate's skills, and the television allowed everyone to access that test. According to source C, JFK believed that the debates were the make-or-break event of the election. He believed those who succeeded at the debate, succeeded at the election. The presidential debate is the true test of a politician. The debates make candidates show their true colors. They have to show their ideas on the spot, be ready to defend them, and use their political skills to disprove their opponent in a high stress situation. This would give Americans an idea of what their candidate would be like in office. Would they be strong or weak? Assertive or passive? Reserved or ambitious? The debate answers those questions for voters, and the introduction of television let everyone find the answer. Over 40 million Americans watched the debate each year from 1976-1966, and as a result that many more voters got their answers. Television allowed for everyone to see what their candidate would be like in office, and make an informed decision.
ReplyDeleteThe television changed the way people view the world, as they are now able to form ideas from reliable sources. The massive amount of people watching television allowed for everyone to be informed, as well as understand politics as a whole. The presidential debates being televised also allow people to have a better understanding of the presidential candidates and make a more informed decision. The arrival of television made people informed of the world around them. Everyone gets their news from the television, without television, nobody would be informed, and America would be no better than it was fifty years ago.
(I did not break the character limit, but for whatever reason it would not let me publish it unless I split my essay up.)
DeleteThis is really good, Tanner! I like that you explained how television strengthened democracy and how it allowed people to form their opinions. I was also glad that you included how debates are very important to the outcome of the elections.
DeleteThis was a good read Tanner! I really enjoyed your use of rhetorical questions, I found them intriguing!
DeleteGreat essay Tanner! I liked how you explained how television could test candidates skills. It really points out how it has allowed Americans to see a candidates true colors. Great job!
DeleteWhile television has opened up many amazing opportunities, it has no room for politics. Television is all about creating imagery and giving like ability toward people. Politics should not be centered around how personable a candidate is, but rather how their ideals and beliefs align with each individual’s own beliefs.
ReplyDeletePresidential debates have become very popular and accessible with the introduction of television, but it may have done more harm than good. Television centers around hoping the general public like the people on their screens. Politics does not need this form of viewership. It needs people to be thinking about their future and what they want that to look like. With T.V., it is proving that people are more drawn to others that look more tidy and well-kept. This can be proven based on the Presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon. It was the first debate that was broadcasted on television. There were viewers that both watched on television and people that listened on the radio. That night, Kennedy was wearing a dark suit, had good posture, and good makeup. On the other hand, Nixon had a light-colored suit, poor posture, and bad makeup. The people that watched the televised debate believed that Kennedy ‘won’ the debate, but the people who listened, strongly disagreed. Kennedy had a more crisp image, allowing people to see him as the better candidate. This shows that television created an ideal for people that was based off of appearance and likeability, not necessarily beliefs and similar ideals. (Menand, Louis)
Not only does the image of candidates on television change the public’s opinion, but the opportunity of just seeing a news anchor with an opinion can change someone’s ideals. A once very trusted news anchor was Walter Cronkite. He was President Lyndon B. Johnson's favorite of all, he trusted what he said, and so did the American people. Johnson was holding fast to belief that the Vietnam War could be won. Cronkite wasn’t so sure, so he went to Vietnam to see for himself. He came back and spoke about how the war could never be won, at that point, it was better to negotiate. As Johnson heard this, he turned to his aides and said, “It’s all over.” The American people trusted Walter Cronkite more than anyone else in the country, he had more authority with the people than anyone else. (Ranney, Austin) The public believed the opinion of a news anchor over that of their own President, over the man they had chosen to lead them into the future. They believed a man they saw on T.V. more than the guidance their own leader could provide them with.
ReplyDeleteFinally, television is allowing people to see a side of politics that is less than appropriate for what they stand for. Politics is a fairly formal field, and with television, it has been turned into a circus. Candidates have begun to manipulate the media to gain likeability because that is becoming the new standard. On April 20, 1992, Presidential candidate Bill Clinton spoke about his choice of undergarments with the American public. What does this have to do with politics and aligning beliefs? Nothing, and it did not create a gateway that led into speaking about or defending his political ideals or what he was going to bring for the American people if he were to be elected. By doing this, Clinton opened himself up to being judged upon, not for political beliefs, but for clothing choices. He allowed himself to be judged as someone would judge an actor that they liked, not on ideals, but on likeability. Think about it, when was the last time you researched an actor’s political ideals? With television, a sense of intimacy and connection come with it. This allows for the American people to feel that they do not need the guidance of a party to create an opinion of a candidate. (Hart, Roderick P., and Mary Triece) Television in politics is taking away from belief in aligning or similar ideals and is turning towards likeability and personability.
Television hardly brings any good to determining better political candidates in terms of ability to bring us into the future. All it does is show who is more personable, which should never have a pull on someone when deciding who they will vote for. Politics has no place in television.
This was a very good essay! I loved how you focused on the idea of how television shapes images, which shapes opinion. This was also very enjoyable to read!
DeleteThis was well done! I liked reading about why you thought politics didn’t have a place in TV and all of your argument points were really good. Overall, great job!
DeleteWell done Audrey! I liked how you pointed out the way that a candidates image could sway opinions. I also liked the point about likability and how politics shouldn’t be a popularity contest.
DeleteFrom the 1960s on, a common item in any American home was the television. Since more people had access to a TV, elections became easier to access as well. However, even with all the benefits a TV may have, it has more of a negative impact on the modern world.
ReplyDeleteOften times, presidential candidates will create a certain image that they will uphold in order to run for office. They twist their appearance for looks in order to win over society and get into office. To further back up this argument, Louis Meuand claims, “national politics has become a competition for images.” (Source C). This means that the political focus of debates or ads on TV has shifted from just facts to bring all about “the look”.
Political viewpoints by candidates can also be manipulated by television, causing the audience to not receive the truth of what a candidate believes. A newscaster for “Nightline”, Ted Koppel affirms this idea because he had experience with his broadcast would take only small snippets of an event. They would only pull about “three or four minutes of a ninety minute event,” (Source F), causing their news broadcast to make the event look good in a certain way, regardless of how badly it truly went. This just goes to shows that, when the television station has the information, they can and will do what they wish with it.
While television definitely has quite a few negative impacts on presidential elections, there are also a few positive results from it. Television helps to convey important information about the candidates to the common population in order to help sway them to one side or the other. Angus Campbell says that “Television...provides a new, direct, and sensitive link between Washington and the people” (Source A). Although this may be true, us as a society cannot fall for the information without accepting that, more than likely, it has been manipulated and twisted in some way. What the American people truly need is an unbiased and reliable way to receive information to be able to smartly hold a presidential election.
In the end, TV has and still is all about image. This negativity affects presidential elections because the focus is all on looks and not facts. No candidate should be judged and elected based on appearance - it should be on facts and viewpoints alone.
You had great points Jackie! I really like your argument in the second paragraph. Your discussion that different clips from a debate can give completely different views of it is really good.
DeleteI really liked you essay, Jackie! I liked how you talked about the image and how that affects people’s opinions.
DeleteThe introduction of television in the 1980s changed the presidential elections. The television has led to debates and news being broadcasted and more information to be spread. The use of television had a positive effect on presidential elections, because it allowed the American people to be informed and kept the president’s accountable for their claims.
ReplyDeleteTelevision became an important part of communication from the government to the American people. “Television, with its penetration, its wide geographic distribution and impact, provides a new, direct, and sensitive link between Washington and the people,” (source A). The ability of television to reach large audiences, allows candidates to communicate with the American people without the use of the press, which can be easily manipulated. The direct source allows candidates and presidents to get an unskewed point across which informed the people on the candidates opinions.
Television also had a positive impact on the election because of its ability to keep presidents and candidates accountable for their claims. In 1968, president Johnson claimed that the Vietnam war could be won, but upon investigation by a television newsman, the truth of the war came out. The war was then ended swiftly after (Source E). Television shows the truth of the candidates and presidents so that the American people aren’t tricked into believing something, such as winning a war that America was losing. Candidates are forced to be more truthful because there became a way that people would be able to discover the truth. This led to more honest politics.
Television also reaches large audiences and numbers of people which better informs America. In 1980, televised debates reached 80.6 million people (Source D). The ability to reach large numbers of people makes the voter informed of who they are voting for. Television reaches more people, which allows them to make a decision on their candidates.
Television has a positive impact on presidential elections because it opens a direct line of communication, keeps presidential candidates honest, and reaches larger numbers of people to keep the American people informed.
Very impressed by your argument Elena! I liked your point where honesty was necessary for candidates due to the new uprising of researching and discovering past false statements by government members. The reach of a larger group of people also gives America a stronger sense of democracy.
DeleteVery nicely done Lani. I very much like your points that you have gave through your essay, especially how being on television can influence someone to become more honest.
DeleteAwesome essay, Lani! I enjoyed reading it. You were able to get your message across without seeming forced. I especially enjoyed the part about the war, I found it very informative. Nice job!
DeleteThe invention of the television caused a drastic change in the way people live their lives. It gave them a new means of obtaining information and entertainment. In 1960, televisions allowed political events to be experienced in a different aspect, but did the television affect the way candidates were elected? The television has caused political candidates to be judged on more subjects than their campaign and desires for the country.
ReplyDeletePolitics have always suggested that people vote for the candidate who will make the most improvements and be the most efficient leader. A politician should be voted for based on their beliefs and plans for the nation. The television has caused this standard to become twisted. People do not always vote according to party guidance because the television has given them a sense of personally knowing a candidate (Source A). A candidate who is likeable, trustworthy, or even humorous could greatly influence a voter into voting for them, even if their political views do not agree. President Bill Clinton discussed his underwear during a speech on live television (Source B). He gave the viewers something to laugh at and relate to which caused many to ignore his political campaign because he appeared to be a humble man who was not afraid to discuss his underwear in front of millions of people. The television gave an emotional connection between candidates and voters because it showed a side of candidates which was not normally revealed to the public.
The television allowed people to see the candidates instead of only listening to their voices. The appearance of the candidate can influence a person view of them. For example, if a candidate has messy hair, a slanted tie, or a suit with a hole in it, a viewer will assume that they are unorganized or unreliable. President Kennedy beat Nixon in the 1960 election, and many believed it was because of his eye-pleasing, neat appearance. Nixon was not presented visually as well as Kennedy was, which influenced people’s idea of each candidate. On the radio, the voices of the candidates can only be heard, so people are focused on what they are saying and not what they look like. The people who watched the debate on the television agreed that Kennedy had won the debate, but the radio listeners strongly disagreed (Source C). Television draws away from the meaning behind political candidates’ statements because of visual distractions.
The television has changed the way political candidates are viewed. A vote is no longer based on beliefs, but also likability and formality. The television gave voters a different picture of a candidate then they would receive from a written or vocal news story. The television allowed humans to be manipulated by emotions and rather than pure logic.
Loved your synthesis Abby! I enjoyed you touching on personal traits such as humor and likeableness being a part of elections. A candidate attempting to win the people over could definitely begin with a chuckle from a joke or an enduring smile.
DeleteGood essay!! I enjoyed the amount of research you put into your writing g it was very well done!
DeleteNice work, Abby! Your essay was informative and gave a clear outline of your opinion. The section where you described how politics at the core are very much the same, but then explained how little differences are vital, was very persuasive. Great work!
DeleteThe television is currently a common piece of technology that is scattered around American homes. From the living room to bedrooms and sometimes the kitchen, you can see the screen streaming any type of entertainment imaginable. When television first appeared in American media, the democratic society deemed it as a positive way to increase communication regarding politics. This was the awakening of an event of changes that have reshaped the idea of politics throughout the country.
ReplyDeleteWhen thinking about politics on television, the presidential election is often the first thought. The broadcasting of the election was sought after to help make America more of a democracy. Information could be accessed without having to wait the next day for the local newspaper to come out. A sense of unity was created knowing that citizens all over the country could take part in watching who could be future leaders of their country.Interest in politics skyrocketed as contact with images of debates. This soon took a negative turn that can be seen today.
The debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon is known as a battle over image. Kennedy’s dashing looks and crisp attire aided him in being deemed the winner. Theodore H. White saw the debate as the example of how much television has changed the idea of politics. One commentator stated, “Our national politics has become a competition for images or between images, rather than between ideals.”
The televised news broadcast became the usual background noise to American citizens' enjoying their cup of joe. The amount of effort that reporters and directors put into news broadcasts was tremendous. Trust was developed between the people and the news as presidents became further away. An example of this is during 1968 when Lyndon Johnson spread false information that America was able to win war in Vietnam. News reporter Walter Cronkite from CBS went to Vietnam himself to discover that the war was a bloody stalemate. His special broadcast across the country was detrimental to President Johnson. Johnson ultimately knew that Americans had been convinced of Cronkite’s findings. An election of a second term for Johnson was left unfulfilled due to the public’s reaction to his false statements. The news is constantly investigating every statement said by presidents in office and presidential candidates. These days it is extremely hard to trust either the news or the government. Publicized politics has created a simple way for society to be easily convinced of lies. As fake news sites and misconceptions flood the internet, America is stuck struggling to feel united with televised elections.
Hope, I love your essay! I found it very well explained and easy to follow. It has some great points and gives insight into the effect of the television on American politics.
DeleteThe streaming of the election is watched by millions of viewers, some who can not even vote.The presidential debates and the vice presidential debate are both televised and anticipated by the people as much as they were the first time, but not for the same reasons. The debates on television used to be the direct source for real connection with politics. Today there are candidates posting on social media and Tweeting like there is no tomorrow. We have never been more connected than we are now. It is the instinctiveness and precision of candidates’ answers to difficult questions that we watch debates for nowadays. Their appearance is also a large factor in watching the debate. The body language of the candidates or facial expressions can make it onto the title page of the New York Times or the Instagram feed of a 13 year old’s iPod. Both forms of information are influential. Candidates nowadays are required to constantly be in contact with the people and keep up appearances due to the first images that appeared on the television in the 1960s.
ReplyDeleteTelevision has affected American society substantially, turning from positive innocence to negative manipulation and false ideals. Trust within the country among government members and potential leaders has been lost as citizens continue to be lied to. The thirst for information has greatly increased leading to an array of fake news being created. Elections continue to be less focused on the logical arguments presented by candidates and more focused on the funny way a presidential candidate stands. As a country, it is necessary to take elections more seriously and to decrease the negative factors noted to televised elections.
Good essay! I appreciate how you used so much information in your statements. It was very well written!
DeleteGood job Hope! I like the points that you gave in your third paragraph about President Johnson and the Vietnam War. I agree with you about how trust is being lost within our country and it’s only getting worse.
DeleteHope, I really liked how you brought into play the use of social media. I also liked how you voiced you opinion. You made really good points in you essay.
DeleteGreat job! I liked how you explained the broad range of people influenced by news on a daily basis.
DeleteSince the invention of the television in the United States, it has become a prominent choice of communication for many Americans listening and watching it. It has changed the outlook of many subjects being aired, and one of them is the presidential election. The television was first used to broadcast information to millions of American voters in the election of 1960 between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. The American people before the invention of television, used to get their information about the presidential election from the radio. Now that they can see what the nominees looked like and what their body language represented of them, it became an effective positive way to change the persons view of the person and whom to vote for.
ReplyDeleteIn politics, the American people look at the certain aspects that the nominees running for president will bring to the table. Instead of listening to the radio about their beliefs, Americans were able to gather their information visually with a television. “Television, with its penetration, its wide geographic distribution and impact, provides a new, direct, and sensitive link between Washington and the people,” (source A). This allowed Americans to visually watch what the nominees were actually saying without reading it in print or listening to it on the radio in their home. It is easy to switch around people’s words and make them sound worse than what they actually intended it to mean. By actually hearing and seeing their beliefs on how they can make the nation stronger, the American people gained more trust in who they were going to vote for.
The amount of audiences that television could broadcast too played an important role in many elections. The highest number of homes that watched the president debates hit 45.8 million in 1980. (Source D). In an ordinary family, there are normally four members in one household, but that could differ. Still, those are people that can change a persons view point of the presidential debate because they were able to watch it on the television. Because of the televisions ability to reach out to a lot of household, it is able to change more people’s viewpoint of the debate.
Being watched on television makes the candidates feel that they have to be honest in what they are trying to preach. In 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson was running for re-election. To get more votes and to gain the trust of the American people, he had said that the war could be over and it must be won. A fellow newscaster didn’t believe in Johnson’s words so the newscaster traveled to Vietnam to see if his words were true in that the war could be over. After the news caster was done in Vietnam, he had a report to give to the American people. In his conclusion he says, “It is increasingly clear to this reporter that the only rational way out . . . will be to negotiate, not as victors, but as an honorable people who lived up to their pledge to defend democracy, and did the best they could.” (Source E). After hearing this report, President Johnson turned to his aides and told them that it was over. Television brings out the truths and the false claims that come with it. After watching Johnson say that the war could be over, and then finding out that it was a false claim, he knew that whatever was going to happen, it wouldn’t end good in his favor.
Without the television, many voters wouldn’t be able to get the information they need in a debate. By watching the debate on a television, the voters can visually see what the candidates are saying with their body language. Television is also able to broadcast to a multitude of houses which can help increase the total number of votes for a candidate. And finally, television makes communication positive because it makes the person feel that they have to be honest to the people whom they are trying to gain trust in. The use of television in presidential debates helps gain a strong sense of democracy.
Great essay Mason, you used many sources and built specifically off of their points throughout the entire essay. Outstanding job!
DeleteThere have been many revolutionary inventions that help shape the way the public views the world. One of the most influential inventions would be the television. The television has impacted the way people vote in the election. It’s positive effects are felt throughout the world. The television has made it easier for people to decide which candidate they think is fit for the presidency. One of the biggest benefits to having a televised broadcast is that it is able to reach more people than in the past. According to Source D millions of people tune into the election each year. With the easy access to the election people are able to decipher for themselves who they think is their candidate. More like are able to feel more involved. When people can feel more involved in the election they are more likely to turn up at the polls.
ReplyDeleteThis leads to more excitement and interest in politics as a whole. This is important as it helps build future generations. According to Source A “The people have once more become the nation... we lost this feeling of direct contact—television has now restored it.” This feeling of involvement will help keep the votes up for many more years to come. Another reason why television is impacting the election so greatly is because it made the policy’s more easy to understand. With the help of a reporter on a tv network people we now able to listen in and decide who they wanted as president. Problem were now able to decide for themselves after coming to and understanding.
DeleteSome people might suggest that tv has some major backlashes such as it only focusing on appearances. In the election between President Kennedy and Richard Nixon, Nixon supprters argued that Kennedy had a leg up in the competition because the tv networkk made him more appealing.According to Souce E “Kennedy benefited because his image on television was “crisp”; Nixon’s—light-colored suit, wrong makeup, bad posture—was “fuzzed.” This claim cannot be proven however. The television has done many wonderful things for the public and continues to serve as an important messenger to this day.
DeleteThe television, one of the most influential forms of media in the modern world, has impacted the presidential elections. It has brought information to people faster and has also altered factors that determine a candidate’s popularity with the public. Because of the changes to the presidential election process, the nation was able to unite again. Although, the role of president became somewhat less formal to the public eye.
ReplyDeleteAs the nation grew larger, people began to feel disconnected from each other. Television seemed to stitch this divide back together. It was the “sensitive link between Washington and the people.” (Source A) Broadcasting of news allowed the average citizen to be politically aware and knowledgeable on the subject. This gave candidates an opportunity to share their views on issues they cared about that the public may not understand or be aware of. Moreover, the invention of the television allowed viewers to connect better with government officials.
Because the president could now speak on TV to get messages out, there were new expectations for them. Image mattered much more than before because everyone was watching. People had access to each candidate’s personal views and quirks, which greatly helped voters make informed decisions. Before, it was common to blindly vote for a party’s candidate because of lack of information. Now, any candidate can sway any voter with their views, promises, actions, or emotions (Source B). The president was also now seen more like a celebrity and as more relatable. When Bill Clinton discussed his underwear on national television, he was solidifying the point that the media through television had altered the role of the president (Source B).
Although television brought information to the public and increased the importance of public image, it also failed to produce a truly political environment. The focus of television will always be on ratings. Ratings depend on entertainment value. For this reason, important political issues may take a back burner to dramatics (Source F).
Televisions are crucial to today’s society. They ferry information across the country and are essential to modern politics, especially during the presidential election. While there is far too much focus on image over substance and some information can be manipulated, the overall effects from television have been positive. It brings information to others and unites the nation.
Gina, I really like your essay, I think it covers all the necessary points and your argument is well backed and it makes sense. I found it very insightful.
DeleteWith the rise of television in the mid twentieth century, public media and news broadcasting would be forever changed. This change also affected some of the key processes of the nation, how presidents were publicly shown, as well as how America would come to know and vote for presidential candidates.
ReplyDeleteTelevision offered a new link between Washington DC and the general public, it gave view into more events and made politics more widespread. It is said that television restored the personal link between the American public and the governmental candidates (Source A). Television also changed the way people viewed the presidents. It made them more personable, and often more approachable by nature. In the 1980s, Clinton was asked questions about they type of underwear that he wears, which is more like the celebrity media of the past than the presidential image (Source B).
Television also made the televised debate commonplace, and a world without it could seem potentially undemocratic. In this way, the debate offers a view into the candidate and their views and approaches to national and international problems and affairs. America’s politics became a competition between images rather than ideals, and this can be seen in today’s society (Source C).
The televised media also played a crucial role in presidents and their policies. This can be seen with President Johnson and the Vietnam war. Well respected people within the media can have a pronounced effect on the nation’s politics. The television also brought aspects of the Vietnam war into the American household, and up until the end it was a fight for democracy. At the end of the war, it was still a fight for democracy, but the way America was fighting had changed dramatically. It went from a bloody stalemate to diplomatic talks of peace and upholding democratic ideals (Source E)
Commercialism has affected all aspects of society, and has affected key areas of politics and government. It could be argued that commercialism has changed the debate in such a way that only a few moments could be useful in determining the validity of a candidate. Therefore, it is important to search out facts and get the truth out of rhetorical contortions and other confusing deliverances of speech and policy (Source F).
Therefore, the effect of television on media and broadcasting, as well as politics is pronounced. It has changed politics into something accessible by the American people, but has also turned it into something that rivals celebrities and fights for popularity and images. It is important to seek out the truth among chaos and determine the best candidate by policy and truth instead of image.
Alex, I think that your essay was well written. I liked how you put that public news would be changed forever. I also liked how you used multiple resources.
DeleteThe invention of the television has been very influential in the United States for the presidential elections. It has made elections fairer and more accessible to the American people.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Source A the television had created a new era in public communication. With the help of this invention, people were able to be informed on what was happening in the government. People were able to feel more involved with what was going on in their country. Almost any person that had a television would be able to watch the debate. People would be able to watch and hear what the potential leader of America would have to say. They would be able to do this from the comfort of their own home.
Source D presents us with a table to show television ratings for the presidential race and the debates. For most of the years, three networks would be covering the debates and the candidates. In the year 1996, five networks were now able to broadcast to the American people what happened in the debates. This gave so many Americans the opportunity to watch the debates.
Source E gives us an example of the relationship between the television and the United States. A newscaster from CBS named Walter Cronkite became very popular with the American people. He was a face on television that could be trusted. During this time, American was become more and more involved in the war. Walter was getting nervous, so we went to Vietnam to see for himself what was going on. While he was over there, he saw that the war was awful. As soon as he came home, he reported he had seen on his own news station. The President at the time was Lyndon Johnston. He saw that Walter was a man that could be trusted. The American people really trusted him too. This all led to an end to the war in Vietnam. Getting out of the war saved so many lives.
ReplyDeleteWithout the television, life would be so much harder. It would be harder to receive information. The television also led to many new inventions. The television was very important during the election years.
In the late 1940s, America was completely changed as the television was introduced into society. It was a much more convenient, and efficient way to transfer information over long distances. With television being the main form of news by the 1960s, it had already built up a huge reputation in categories like entertainment. Naturally, while keeping in mind that television is the main source of news, politicians are instinctively going to try their hardest to act as “tv friendly” as possible. Source B states that, “because of television’s celebrity system, Presidents are losing their distinctiveness as social actors and hence are often judged by standards formerly used to assess rock singers and movie stars.” To build off of this, it is safe to agree on the fact that Presidential candidates are more concerned about their “tv/celebrity” appearances, than they do about the things they claim to believe in. In horrible attempts to become more “hollywood,” Presidential candidates tend to change their beliefs based not on what is right, but rather on what looks best on television. A question asked by author, Ted Koppel, in Source F, gives some food for thought; “ Do we deliberately aim for the lowest common denominator, thereby assuring ourselves of the largest possible audience but producing nothing but cotton candy for the mind…?” This is an interesting question because it explores the lengths at which politicians will go to assure that they are in power. Whether this power is obtained through logical persuasiveness or in a morally questionable way is completely out of the equation for people in such positions. It is very clear that intended use of television, in terms of news, was to more efficiently broadcast information about things such as the Presidential election. In Source A, Frank Stanton was quoted saying, “One of the great contributions expected of television lay in its presumed capacity to inform and stimulate the political interests of the American electorate.” This promise was only momentarily fulfilled before television itself ruined its own credibility. Due to various branches of television becoming more and more involved with the political scene, Presidents and politicians shaped their goals around what was more popular on television, rather than what they truly believed in. This caused a sense of untrustworthiness among these candidates and the American people that may never be restored.
ReplyDeleteSince the 1960s the American people have been blessed with the television which was a great way to watch comedy, fantasy, and prime time shows. Before the television you would only get to watch movies in a theater or listen to the radio. At the beginning of Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign he told the media about his underpants which was very revealing. He did this to try to connect with people and tell people that he is just a normal American also. This not only was very weird but also changed how the media portrayed and reported on presidents or their campaigns. In 1960 televisions were in about 28 million homes. People at that time were very interested in what the presidents had to say they mostly did not lean to one side or to the other. They just listened to the debate with an open mind and whether or not they agreed with one candidate or another. Nowadays it is a yelling match between each party trying to convince who said this or said that. However, the media and television has also changed by not reporting the news but by taking things out of context and trying to make the other person look like a bad person. The first televised election and debate was the 1960 presidential election between Nixon and JFK. Many people like Theodore H. White he believed that these debates had made the candidates answer questions very quickly without thinking about it. However, this is a good thing because it shows you what the candidate believes in by knowing their answer instantaneously. Media has changed the way our presidential debates are portrayed and often they have gotten worse throughout the years just looking at the numbers which have gone down 27% since the 80s.
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