Do politics influence the media? Or does the media influence politics? Throughout the history of the United States, the relationship between the mass media and political interests has been controversial. Stephan Halper, author of "Big Problems, Big Ideas," claims that the intertwined relationship between the mass media and political interests cause manufactured crisis narratives to drown out the recommendations of Congress and other institutions designed to inform the masses, "the rational center" (Halper 92). Halper effectively supports his claim by employing scholarly diction, historical references, and experts' opinions, which produces an informed, factual, and researched argument.
Throughout the article, Halper exhibits an advanced vocabulary to add to his overall credibility. Halper uses …show more content…
For example, Halper quotes George F. Kennan a US diplomat and a double Pulitzer Prize winner. Kennan is a reputable expert to quote, because he has been apart of the media and politics, so his view is balanced. In 1947, Kennan responded to McCarthy's "Big Ideas" as the voice of reason when he told the board of the Federal Reserve System, "We are not necessarily always against the expansion of communism... the same degree in every area" (Halper 93). This rational approach wasn't broadly publicized by the mass media and as usual sloganeering triumphed. Halper was able to make his argument more authentic by quoting qualified experts that assist in supporting his overall argument.
Halper argues that Big Ideas are responsible for causing many big problems in the United States, because the relationship between the media and political interest foster an environment that allows this sloganeering to prevail. Sloganeering itself is not the entire problem; it is the irrational thinking that spreads as a result of vague political
Throughout the article, Halper exhibits an advanced vocabulary to add to his overall credibility. Halper uses …show more content…
For example, Halper quotes George F. Kennan a US diplomat and a double Pulitzer Prize winner. Kennan is a reputable expert to quote, because he has been apart of the media and politics, so his view is balanced. In 1947, Kennan responded to McCarthy's "Big Ideas" as the voice of reason when he told the board of the Federal Reserve System, "We are not necessarily always against the expansion of communism... the same degree in every area" (Halper 93). This rational approach wasn't broadly publicized by the mass media and as usual sloganeering triumphed. Halper was able to make his argument more authentic by quoting qualified experts that assist in supporting his overall argument.
Halper argues that Big Ideas are responsible for causing many big problems in the United States, because the relationship between the media and political interest foster an environment that allows this sloganeering to prevail. Sloganeering itself is not the entire problem; it is the irrational thinking that spreads as a result of vague political