The Famous Ad

An awful lot of times in the book they mention the ad that media didn't really verify or provide questioning of during the 2004 election---the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth attack ad against John Kerry. Here are a couple of them.

Obama's use of paid/free media?

We recently discussed the benefits of free and paid media in class. It seems Obama is using a form of advertisement for his economic stimulus plan.

President Obama announced today that his administration will begin stamping an emblem on projects funded by the economic stimulus package so that people can easily recognize the effects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“These emblems are symbols of our commitment to you, the American people -- a commitment to investing your tax dollars wisely, to put Americans to work doing the work that needs to be done. So when you see them on projects that your tax dollars made possible, let it be a reminder that our government -- your government -- is doing its part to put the economy back on the road of recovery.”

Full Article Here

If the recovery plan goes well, might these stamps be physical advertisements for his accomplishment? It would certainly look good for his reelection campaign.

What Will the Recession Look Like?

Slate magazine is encouraging its readers to submit photographs of the economic crisis. Past crises have led to iconic photographs of those in need:

The Great Depression calls to mind grainy news photos of bank runs and soup kitchens, and the harrowing portraits taken by Walker Evans. The downturn of the 1970s evokes images of yacht-size cars idling in line at the gas station. But what does the current economic crisis look like?
...
You also can't take a picture of the unemployed if they never leave the house.

How are we going to record the depression if everyone is glued to their TV and computer screens?

Shoot the Recession: Slate wants to see your photographs of the economic crisis.

Campaigns and Elections II

Forecasting

Cronkite Interviews Kennedy

Former CBS Anchor Walter Cronkite used to interview presidents about issues. That is not the case these days where journalists interpret the news and don't allow politicians or presidential candidates to talk directly to the people.

In this clip, Kennedy is talking to Cronkite about the situation in Vietnam in 1963.

Media Matters keeps an eye on Rush Limbaugh

Anyone who follows politics would know that Rush Limbaugh has a commanding conservative audience for his radio show. Since the inauguration of President Obama and the recent sea change in power, Rush Limbaugh has risen to greater prominence as a result of the power vacuum in the Republican party. According to some, he's a savior and is speaking the gospel of conservatism. According to others, he's simply insane, and consistently engages in lies and deception.

Media Matters, an example of what Perlmutter would call a "reviser and extender of the media," has launched a watchdog section within their website to monitor Rush Limbaugh -- designed largely to to fact-check Rush and to monitor his whereabouts in the political landscape.

Typo and Ford Gaffe

Firstly, there seems to be a typo in the book on p.161. In the first paragraph it says,"...a candidate must demonstrate a level of public support (in reputable polls) of at last 15 percent. It should say least not last.

But on a serious note, this is the famous gaffe that Ford made in the debates about Soviet presence in Eastern Europe.