Elections and in particular presidential elections have changed shape and dynamic since the invention of the television and its successors in social media. Before television, the American people received the candidate’s information on policy and stance through print, radio, or in person at political rallies and conventions. As Frank Stanton, president of Columbia Broadcasting said. “Television, with its penetration, its wide geographic distribution and impact, provides a new, direct, and sensitive link between Washington and the people” (A). In the beginning of visual media this may have seemed to be the case. However, I personally believe the advent of modern media technology has weakened the ability of the people of the United States to establish an informed decision on presidential candidates.
An interesting point to support this comes from Theodore White’s, The Making of a President. In it he complains “that television had …show more content…
The impact that Walter Cronkite had on Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam War is another very strong argument for the power of media in politics. Walter Cronkite, as Johnson’s aide Bill Moyer stated “had more authority with the American people than anyone else” (C). Therefore, when Cronkite grew skeptical of the reports coming in from Washington and Saigon claiming we were winning the war, he took it upon himself to go and find out the truth. (C) Upon his return he iterated in a now famous broadcast “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” (C). President Johnson respected Mr. Cronkite’s opinion so much that he soon gave his own broadcast announcing that he was ending the air and naval bombardment in most of Vietnam, and that he would not be seeking re-election
An interesting point to support this comes from Theodore White’s, The Making of a President. In it he complains “that television had …show more content…
The impact that Walter Cronkite had on Lyndon B. Johnson and the Vietnam War is another very strong argument for the power of media in politics. Walter Cronkite, as Johnson’s aide Bill Moyer stated “had more authority with the American people than anyone else” (C). Therefore, when Cronkite grew skeptical of the reports coming in from Washington and Saigon claiming we were winning the war, he took it upon himself to go and find out the truth. (C) Upon his return he iterated in a now famous broadcast “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” (C). President Johnson respected Mr. Cronkite’s opinion so much that he soon gave his own broadcast announcing that he was ending the air and naval bombardment in most of Vietnam, and that he would not be seeking re-election