Television: The MostInfluential Media of All?

The Role of Television in AmericanPolitics and Life

November 19, 2008

Objectives

• How has the rise of television affected thetransmission of information in our society?

• Has T.V. improved or damaged they wayAmerican politics are conducted?

• What role does (and should) satire play intelevision political coverage?

Critiques

• More time to copy notes (16)• Less notes (12)• Go too fast (11)• Too much homework (9)• Better homework (5)

My Homework Philosophy

• When you graduate you need to be able to:♣ Write♣ Read♣ Have critical thinking skills

• Specific content knowledge is important, butwriting, reading, and thinking will serve you ineverything you do after high school.

• Therefore, I try to make your homework tie intothose objectives.♣ That means you will write, a lot.♣ You will read, a lot.♣ And occasionally I’ll throw in a more knowledge-based worksheet

Other Critiques

• More video• Explain assignments better• Less handouts• More handouts• Be more interesting• Easier homework• More challenging homework• Move around more• Tie HW to lesson better• “Weirdo HW” gets excessive

Compliments

• Like the use of technology (15)• Make things interesting (11)• Video clips (7)• Lots of notes (2)• Call on people/keep people involved (2)• Sense of humor (2)

CBS Transcript

Military police got back into the compound of the2.5 million dollar embassy complex at dawn.Before that a platoon of Viet Cong were incontrol. The Communist raiders never got into themain chancellery building, a handful of marineshad it locked and kept them out; but the raiderswere everywhere else. No one unless identifiedwere allowed in the street. An Australian MP wasstanding guard and firing warning shots into theair to keep the streets clear. The bodies of twomilitary policemen who died while they tried toassault the compound lay near their jeep across theboulevard.

This is where the Viet Cong raiders broke in.They sneaked up and blasted a hole in thereinforced concrete fence surrounding thecompound. They had the thick embassy wall toprotect them. They were inside before anyoneknew. But none of the raiders survived to tell oftheir exploit. By 8 o’clock, almost 5 hours afterthey broke in, almost all of them were dead. Allin civilian clothes they had been armed withAmerican M-16 machine guns; they had rocketsand explosives. Their purpose was to apparentlydestroy the embassy. At that purpose they did notsucceed.

CBS News Coverage: TetOffensive

T.V. & Vietnam

• Judging from the previous clip, what impactdo you think television had on publicopinion back in the United States regardingthe Vietnam War?

T.V.’s Impact on the VietnamWar

• First “television war”♣“Living room war”

• Initial coverage was very upbeat♣Not very graphic or violent

• As war continued, violent and disturbingimages were broadcast more frequently♣Public became disillusioned♣Helped the anti-war effort

Modern Connection

• What role has the media played in the IraqWar?

What is Satire?

• A type of writing that ridicules theshortcomings of people or institutions in anattempt to bring about change.

• Most popular examples, The Colbert Reportand The Daily Show

• Why has satire become so popular on TVthe past few years?

• Is satire a positive or negative means ofcritiquing the government?♣Why?

Political Pundits & Their Shows

• Like radio, political pundits have shows inwhich they play up their bias forentertainment

• Entertainment + Political Commentary• Claim to be unbiased

♣Fox = “Fair and Balanced,” “No Spin Zone”

The Take Away Message…

• When you watch something on TV(comedy, satire, news, political commentaryshows) you need to be able to detect thebias, decide if it is presenting the facts in afair or accurate manner, and make adecision about how its going to affect yourviews.

Homework

• Watch a 30 minute news show andcomplete the worksheet.

• Be prepared to talk about what you watchedon Friday.

1. What type of mass media is the easiest toaccess/cheapest?

2. Which type is the most entertaining?3. Which type provides the best

information/is least biased?4. Which type is most biased?5. Which type is your favorite?