[jback]

Journalism essay: Who's winning the US election....the media or Sarah Palin? Personal opinion.


When 43 year old, Alaskan governor, Sarah Palin was first elected by presidential hopeful John McCain millions of people didn't know who she was. Since being chosen as McCain’s running mate the beliefs, views, policies, and family of Ms. Palin have been investigated and broadcast for the whole world to see.

Journalists and reporters alike have fast and furiously investigate everything there was to be known about this seemingly unknown, major player in the US election. Everything about Palin has been heavily scrutinized by the media, and the press has been more than eager to criticize Palin’s positions.

Since being chosen as McCain’s running mate, Sarah Palin has been under the scrutiny of the media. The mass media coverage has deemed Palin as being “inexperienced” and “not ready” to become vice president of the United States. She has been under fire for being too conservative and leaning too far to the right. The media was quick to point out the fact that Palin was opposed to abortion and gay marriages. The press continued to probe her campaign and beliefs.

The coverage had gotten so bad that the Republican party has flat out denied interview requests of Palin, and called the news media “piranhas”. It almost seems that the press hasn’t shown as much respect for her, as they do her counterparts. Many believe that a man in her position wouldn’t be treated as badly by the media like she is.

You cannot pick up a magazine or newspaper or watch the news without hearing about Palin. The media for whatever reasons, politics or personal have chosen to portray the republic vice president nominee in a bad light. Some feel it may be sexist, others just feel that most media today are too liberal for a woman like Sarah Palin and have chose to discredit her.

When deciding who is winning the U.S election, Sarah Palin or the media, you must look beyond all the negative ads. The media as we know it is everywhere and is able to reach millions. It of course is going to have an affect on how we perceive things since this is how we are able to get to know the candidates and their agenda. The media plays such an important role in helping us get the information we need to choose our government. With that being said if the media is “telling” us that she is the wrong chose, and we have nothing else to base it on.

The media is winning the fight for the US election. Palin maybe the one who is running for office, but it’s the media that is controlling what is seen, heard, and known about Palin. If the media continues to “tell us” that she is the wrong choice, then we will believe it. In today’s society the media, whether it’s TV, internet, magazines, or newspapers are how we as people know what is going on and we continue to push us towards “their” opinions, and this is why Sarah Palin is losing to the media.

[Peppy]

Bravo. I was thinking about something in those lines about Sarah Palin. A nobody the next moment, a superstar in the next. She's being scrutinized all right, it's kind of a shame and not a shame. Everything she did or does now is the BIG NEWS. Hell, they gave her scrutiny over the glasses she wears. Amazing.

But with all the media covering her, all eyes are on her and the choices in the matter are ignored almost completely. Sarah and the media are just too gossip-y to ignore, a ripe gold Easter egg...

Sorry about that.

The journalism essay was exceptionally enticing to read. Though I'm non-American, I was quickly interested to join the debate-of-sort. Personal opinion is just more interesting to read than bland old, unbiased information which journalism is all about. I just think it needs a kick or hyperbole to make things interesting, and I think you pretty much nailed it in that area.

I'm sure people who write essays will have something more to say, I just write litle' ol' stories writer.

[Jimbalaya]

I do not watch much TV. Any TV, really, but the truth in this is easy to realize. Even one who really doesn't keep up on such things is helpless to tune it out. You make a very good point here. Well done.

[jerH]

You do make some good points here, but a suggestion when you're writing a position piece like this: take the other side's most obvious counterpoints and try to refute them. For example, you state

Palin maybe the one who is running for office, but it’s the media that is controlling what is seen, heard, and known about Palin.

An obvious counterpoint would be to cite how little she has exposed herself to the press (I think she's given what, maybe five interviews?) thereby abdicating her prerogative to shape how she's portrayed in the media. You in turn might counter that argument with something like, "The media has used this scarcity of interview opportunities as an excuse to focus on the most salacious portions of her record, while ignoring her achievements in yada yada yada," (assuming you can find any...woops, my partisanship is showing).

Long, long ado when I was in junior high and high school, I used to compete in an academic competition called ready writing. You would walk into a room with nothing, sit down at the desk, and there would be paper, pencil, and a topic. You had an hour to take one side or the other and write a persuasive piece. I found this tactic to be very useful, and was pretty good (if I do say so myself).

Hope this helps in future!