The Media and the Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968 - Literature review Example

The Media and the Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968 Both developed and developing nations have experienced the impact of media development. Advancements in communication methods have played a major role in transforming modern politics, political processes, and political communication (Riaz 161). Political communication refers to the use of mass media by the government and politicians to seek public support on national and political issues. We can discuss political communication by analyzing media messages and political statements made by popular politicians and global leaders (Riaz 162). Ideally, socio-cultural and economic status defines the diverse patterns of political communication (Riaz 163). The definition involves the use of mass media like the internet by competing political parties (Riaz 165). Indeed, political parties and politicians create customized websites and blogs where they pass their messages and get feedback from their followers and voters. Political parties seek to adjust their policies and priorities to reflect the feedback received from the voters via Facebook, twitter, YouTube and other social sites. The new media technologies are equally reliable and effective in that no person or government can ban it (Riaz 163). Notably, the new media have provided better avenues of reaching the electorate. The use of mobile phones and World Wide Web in modern political campaigns has influenced political behavior and public participation (Riaz 162). For instance, in the Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968, the media portrayed the violent scenes at Michigan Avenue and the arrest of many demonstrators. The expose prompted more citizens to oppose the Democratic Convention in Chicago and its resolutions (All Politics 1). Indeed, the role of the media in the Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968 is very clear as the media portrayed the convention in the bad light by focusing on the protests, arrests, and revolts. Televisions broadcasted to the nation the student demonstrators on the streets and the protesting delegates in the convention that undermined the support and resolutions of the convention (All Politics 1). The police treated the media as enemies during the convention that confirmed the significance. Moreover, subject to their wide network, new media technologies have changed the way political parties attracted supporters. They provide a communication network for political campaigns and distributing campaign messages where politicians reach their supporters in a faster and cheaper way. Political supporters consume what they want that forces political parties to design campaign messages that address such wants (Riaz 164). The new media technologies equally provide security information to political supporters thus supporting their mission. For instance, in the Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968, ABC news reported the location and number of regular army troops, federal agents, and National Guards. The reporting enabled the protestors to avoid arrests (University of Virginia 1). However, it is equally true that politicians and political parties can manipulate the new media technologies. For instance, Mayor Daley defended the police acts during the convention when he appeared in an ABC News interview. He provided no evidence to support the claim that the police were trying to prevent a possible assassination on various senate members (University of Virginia 1). Quite notable is the fact that the structure of political and media institutions differ across various countries. Political parties define the executive political organizations that mostly hold specific ideologies. Politicians in democratic nations align themselves to these organizations and supports subscribe to the ideals of the political parties. New media technologies play great roles in such political institutions. However, dictatorial nations disregard political organizations thus limiting the influence of new media technologies on political communication. Where most developed nations rely on the media to advance political interests, some nations disregard and even ban the use of new media technologies. Political parties and politicians in democratic nations like U.S.A use modern technologies to influence voters. Indeed, the continued viewing of subsidized public broadcasts enhances the citizens’ knowledge on political ideologies that influence voter turnout. However, some countries limit public broadcasts and use of social media. The ban on social media in various countries like China demeans the influence of new media technologies on political institutions. Clearly, a dynamic relationship exists between political and media institutions. New media technologies influence confidence levels in political institutions. Indeed, in a democratic society, new media influence the citizens’ confidence in political institutions through political debates and open discussions (Hadeshian 2). Since the media is subject to manipulations and controls, it can serve diverse public purposes that may include spreading propaganda against political institutions or publicizing political leaders and their ideologies to the public. However, the relationship between political and media institutions gets complicated since the citizens’ preferences of how political institutions should operate and perform demeans mass media’s impact on political institutions (Floss 2). A preference-perception model defines how a political reality perceptions and political preferences relationship derive variations in political confidence (Floss 2). The role of media on political institutions is clearer in modern democratic societies where political entities depend on the media to gain or share information. Ideally, media information shapes citizens’ perceptions of political institutions. Mass media drive diverse views on political institutions subject to its independence. For instance, it is evident that specific newspapers and televisions can hold positive views with some political institutions and negative views with other political institutions (Floss 4). As such, media institutions can develop independent and unbiased perceptions on political institutions. The aspect of balanced reporting adopted by media institutions demeans the mass media influence on specific political perceptions. In presidential elections, mass institutions seek to provide balanced reporting by offering all candidates equal airtime to air their policies. Therefore, the relationship between political and media institutions depends on various factors and hence its dynamic nature. News reporting is one of the fundamental aspects of the modern society since it provides significant decisions that informs and helps the public to make effective decisions. Whether in the national or international level, news reporting remains subtle. News reporting covers all sectors. Indeed, the entertainment, political, sport, health, transport, and communication sector depend on news reporting (Sabzevari and Sadeghi 22). In the Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968, news reporting played a major role in broadcasting the demonstrations and proceedings and resolution of the convention. ABC news reporting informed the demonstrators on the location and number of regular army troops, federal agents, and National Guards. The reporting on how the police arrested and harassed the reporters, students, and doctors at Michigan Avenue heightened the demonstrations (All Politics 1). Moreover, news reporting informed Americans on the proceedings and protests in the convention. The news reporting of the riots led to a government-funded study that blamed Chicago police for the violence (All Politics 1). Moreover, the news reporting influenced the political results of the convention where Hubert Humphrey won the nomination easily (University of Virginia 1). In this context, news reporting helps citizens and governments to make wise decisions. Indeed, although Mayor Daley disputed the findings of the government-funded study, a Chicago grand jury used the study to indict eight police officers and eight civilians as the masterminds of the violence (All Politics 1). Subject to its significance, news reporting is clearly a very challenging profession since the society and government agencies relies on news reporting (Sabzevari and Sadeghi 22). As such, media institutions have a mandate to make sure that news reporting is objective, balanced, effective, and unbiased. In the political arena, these requirements are necessary for creating a fair political field that allows political institutions to compete on equal terms. New media technologies support effective message construction and advertising in political campaigns. A fundamental relationship exists between campaign messages and electoral participation. Advertising in political campaigns influences voter turnout, voting patterns, and voting behavior (Sides and Karch 474-475). Political institutions use campaign messages to woo voters. In fact, the mobilization held on mass media derives the most significant effects on voter turnout and voting patterns compared to the effect of civic education (Sides and Karch 466). New media technologies play a major role in designing and sharing campaign messages during the election time. Clearly, President Barrack Obama relied on new media technologies as a major platform for his presidential campaigns (Riaz 162). The media supported effective message construction and advertising in his political campaigns. In the modern society, citizens have different needs and hence the need to construct campaign messages that address the needs of different groups within the electorate. New media support the creation of campaign messages that address the diverse issues associated with children, youth, veterans, parents, and other groups of citizens (Sides and Karch 466). Indeed, campaign messages that focus on fewer salient issues yield insignificant results on the political campaigns. However, campaign messages that mix highly salient and less salient issues attract public participation in the elections (Sides and Karch 466). The Democratic Convention in Chicago 1968 felt the impact of message construction and advertising in political campaigns. The Students for a Democratic Society advertised on various mass media where they called everybody to join the demonstrations and nominate their candidate for the presidency (University of Virginia 1). The campaign content bore great results as thousands joined the demonstrations in Chicago protesting the Vietnam War and the events at the convention (University of Virginia 1). Moreover, Hubert Humphrey won the nomination (University of Virginia 1). New media forms public opinion. Technological advancements have made the world a global village that is prone to media effects (Hadeshian 2). The public broadcasts and internet sources influence our lives since they present the values that relate to the modern society (Riaz 161). In the contemporary times, media remain the most powerful tool that influences public opinion (Hadeshian 2). The media drives political debates and offers a platform for open discussions that help in shaping public opinion. Through factual, unbiased, and effective news reporting, the media shapes public opinion on fundamental national and global issues. For instance, the media shaped a public opinion where the demonstrators protested the Vietnam War. Moreover, they protested against the perceived intention of the convention and the arrest of reporters. Indeed, the media were objective and factual in shaping the thinking and perception of the citizens and demonstrators who were against the Vietnam War. Evidently, political leaders, government agencies, and global corporations can manipulate the media to pursue their political and economic interests thus misleading the public on salient issues (Hadeshian 2). Indeed, the media can distort facts and disregard fundamental public information to please few individuals or corporates leading to a distorted public opinion. Various leaders use the media to debate and pass information that serves their interests at the expense of public interest (Hadeshian 2). Media manipulation demeans the capacity of new media technologies to shape public opinion. As such, media institutions have a duty to ensure factual news reporting that will foster informed public opinion. Works Cited All Politics. “Brief History of Chicagos 1968 Democratic Convention.” CNN, 1997. Web. 19 November 2014. Floss, Daniela. “Mass Media’s Impact on Confidence in Political Institutions: The Moderating Role of Political Preferences.” National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR), December 2008. Web. 19 November 2014. Hadeshian, Seta. “Public Opinion - The role of Media.” CCR International Refugee Rights Conference, 2006. Web. 19 November 2014. Riaz, Saqib. “Effects of New Media Technologies on Political Communication.” Journal of Political Studies 1. 2 (2010): 161-173. Print. Sabzevari, Amir, and Vahid Sadeghi. “A Contrastive Rhetorical Analysis of the News Reports in Iranian and American Newspapers.” IJRET 1. 2 (2013): 21-31. Print. Sides, John, and Andrew Karch. “Messages that Mobilize? Issue Publics and the Content of Campaign Advertising.” The Journal of Politics 70. 2(2008): 466–476. Print. University of Virginia. Historical Context. Web. 19 November 2014. Read More