“Between August of 2008 and March of 2009, the Obamas appeared on the cover of People five times, CBS and ABC aired specials on the new President and his family. In June, NMC’s Brian Williams hosted two hour-long broadcasts on the First Family, including talk about the family dog and footage of the President munching on M&M’s. A center for Media and Public affairs report round that in Obama’s first fifty days in office he received more than three times the coverage than his processor had.” -Ken Auletta
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In the passage above, Ken Auletta is explaining how the Obama’s were broadcasted an immense amount more than his the preceding president, George W. Bush. Pointless things such as, Michelle Obama’s work out plan, or Barack Obama eating M&M’s were aired and published on front covers of magazines. I was drawn to this passage, because it seems Obama’s glorification of being president was/is taken away from him by the media. Publishing such things in the tabloids only makes him look worse than he actually is. Well, to some people. Other people look past such bogus things, but others are drawn into purchasing a magazine or watching a television show, if it previews the president of our country eating M&M’s or the first lady working out. Later in the passage, it talks about how there is a website, where white house photographers post slideshows of photos, of what is going on inside of the white house, so people can have their fix of images. It’s not fair to the president that people look down upon him just because of what the media is forcing him to be, rather than his political views. This passage is very significant because, it is happening now, each and every day and we are involuntary forced to look at it on our store shelves, see it on newspaper headlines, or online sites.
In the passage above, Ken Auletta is explaining how the Obama’s were broadcasted an immense amount more than his the preceding president, George W. Bush. Pointless things such as, Michelle Obama’s work out plan, or Barack Obama eating M&M’s were aired and published on front covers of magazines. I was drawn to this passage, because it seems Obama’s glorification of being president was/is taken away from him by the media. Publishing such things in the tabloids only makes him look worse than he actually is. Well, to some people. Other people look past such bogus things, but others are drawn into purchasing a magazine or watching a television show, if it previews the president of our country eating M&M’s or the first lady working out. Later in the passage, it talks about how there is a website, where white house photographers post slideshows of photos, of what is going on inside of the white house, so people can have their fix of images. It’s not fair to the president that people look down upon him just because of what the media is forcing him to be, rather than his political views. This passage is very significant because, it is happening now, each and every day and we are involuntary forced to look at it on our store shelves, see it on newspaper headlines, or online sites.
(Found on 3rd page, first column)
I don't understand why you say "Publishing such things in the tabloids only makes him look worse than he actually is." Where is the evidence that supports this idea that it is actually making him look worse? I would have to argue that it is sort of making him look better to us because the public can see that even though he is the President of the United States, he is just like all of us. We all have had M&M's, we have all excercised to try an be fit like most and we all have this association with dogs to the american dream. Making him look just like the rest of us helps give most of us a sort of comfort within ourselves. This type of media makes him seem like a down-to-earth guy that we can all trust.
ReplyDeleteExposure of the white house family isn’t necessarily a negative experience for Obama. I feel as though the pictures of him living an ordinary life don’t make him look worse but only adds to his prestige because to some it makes the president seem more relatable. But, also the all-out obsession with white house and Obama may be forcing him to purposeful seem more relatable so people will feel more equal to him and therefor he gains the American’s trust. These images may not at all be bogus; these images may be hard worked for publicity. But, viewing the president as more similar to the average American does put a disregard towards his political standing. Because many aren’t paying attention to this aspect of the president many Americans are losing sight of the big picture. With the note that Obama had received more coverage to his first fifty days in a ratio of two to one with president Bush, this may be suggesting that the reason that Obama is more popular with people is that he seems that more approachable and is liked for his media coverage, not his political standing.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion I think it makes him look worse. I think people need to be paying less attention to what he is eating, or his wifes work out plan- and more attention to his political veiws, and what is going on with decisions in/for our country. Don't get me wrong, Obama is chill guy- I just think the press is paying way to close attention on his personal life. The stuff they publish is pointless, like do you really care about how many M&M's he has aten today? Probably not.
ReplyDeletecelestemarie: I guess I never thought of it that way, that the media is forcing Americans to loose signt of the big picture & that maybe it is making him seem approachable. To some extent, I think that is okay- but what if it isn't true? How do we know the media isn't lieing?
ReplyDelete