The media’s target audience is the regular, ordinary people. This target audience makes the rhetoric the media uses work. As a culture, Americans get in a daily routine of watching the local news to hear about the weather, sports, and hopefully a juicy story. Determining the percentage of what is shown to be true and knowing if lesser, unimportant stories are being thrown away can be the decider between people watching or not. These questions are a part of Michael Moore’s Bowling for Columbine documentary. Moore transitions from a regular guy (disclaiming his wealth) to someone doing what it takes to find the answers. His discoveries show just how America and the media think, as well as, what type of material is needed to get viewers’ attention.
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Tragedy also brings out emotions in most people; the media knows this. The media feeds on this. They cover tragedies every day getting “exclusives.” The media wants the viewers to know every detail of the story; well, enough to get interest and make them come back for more. The use of pathos is one of their strongest allies. When it comes to the “regular guy” watching, he or she will understand emotion more so over logic and credibility. As Forrest Gump says, “I 'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.” This can be said true about many people. As Michael Moore shows several times throughout his film, it’s an effective tool. Many of the viewers watching the documentary remember hearing about Columbine; however, actually listening to the 9-1-1 call and seeing the school footage can change a person. Another example is a result of the shootings itself. Moore interviews and helps two survivors get their story out. This trio begin to use emotions in their case which proves to be exceedingly effective. Showing their bullet scars and explaining how difficult day to day life is due to the shootings changes a normal trip to K-mart into media coverage and the store itself transitioning to no longer selling
Tragedy also brings out emotions in most people; the media knows this. The media feeds on this. They cover tragedies every day getting “exclusives.” The media wants the viewers to know every detail of the story; well, enough to get interest and make them come back for more. The use of pathos is one of their strongest allies. When it comes to the “regular guy” watching, he or she will understand emotion more so over logic and credibility. As Forrest Gump says, “I 'm not a smart man, but I know what love is.” This can be said true about many people. As Michael Moore shows several times throughout his film, it’s an effective tool. Many of the viewers watching the documentary remember hearing about Columbine; however, actually listening to the 9-1-1 call and seeing the school footage can change a person. Another example is a result of the shootings itself. Moore interviews and helps two survivors get their story out. This trio begin to use emotions in their case which proves to be exceedingly effective. Showing their bullet scars and explaining how difficult day to day life is due to the shootings changes a normal trip to K-mart into media coverage and the store itself transitioning to no longer selling