Closing Perspectives

I LOVED this class. The atmosphere in the classroom was awesome and I felt like I could come to the teacher about anything. I believe that due to the fact that the class atmosphere and teacher was so great that I learned a lot more than I ever intended to learn. I would most defiantly recommend that others take this course.

The information and projects done in class fit with the topics and were very informative. Where I could have done without some of the papers (lol just kidding). I really enjoyed the class and look forward to the rest of my classes under you :) :)!!!!!!!!!!

Women in Political Communications

Women politics struggle to get the attention they deserve from the media. In research it was found that women are more likely to be portrayed based on their abilities to be mothers and wife's then what they can do for the office. The media tends to focus on the woman's personal issues than her ideas and plans. First Ladies also get down played by the media. They are looked at as basically just the Presidents wife and puppet. The first ladies actually do a lot of work and deserve to be recognized for it but simply because they are female they don't get it.


I think it is crappy how the media treats women. A woman is just as capable to hold a certain office as a man is. In some cases a woman could probably do the job better than a man. I think that it is time that the media starts to pay attention and give the women the credit they deserve.

Mediating Demcratic Engagement

The definition of democratic engagement is adherence of democratic norms and values; having a set of empirically grounded attitudes and beliefs about the nature of the political and social world; holding stable, consistent, and informed opinions on major public issues of the day; and engaging in behaviors designed to influence, directly or indirectly, the quality of public life for oneself and others.



Ok so I am not goning to lie, I really don't understand this at all. I don't have much to say because I don't really get it, sorry :(.

The Spiral of Silence

The Spiral of Silence is a political science and mass media theory that asserts person is less likely to voice an opinion on a topic if one feels that one is in the minority for fear of reprisal or isolation from the majority. Mass media plays a large part in determining what the dominant opinion is, since our direct observation is limited to a small percentage of the population. Mass media has such an enormous impact on how public opinion is portrayed, and can dramatically impact an individuals perception about where public opinion lies, whether or not that portrayal is factual.



I think that people should just forget what others think about them and their beliefs and opinions. I mean why do we give a shit what others think. We are all entitled to our own beliefs and ideas.

Gatekeeping and Press

Gatekeeping is defined as the way information is filtered for publication. Gatekeeping occurs at all levels of the media structure, from a reporter deciding which sources are chosen to include in a story to editors deciding which stories are printed, or even covered. The easiest way to get around Gatekeeping is by the Internet.



I don't think that Gatekeeping is right. I think that the whole point in freedom of speech is so that the reporters can get their point across like they want it. I never realized how big Gatekeeping was and how big of a role it played in today's society.

The Presidency and the Media

The media plays a huge role in the way the President is viewed by the world. The media will either be for or against a President either making or breaking them. If a President or Presidential Candidate tries to control what is said by the media the more they bad mouth them. The media is always all over the President, it is almost like they monitor his every move.


During election time the media really works overtime in covering the candidates running for office. The media can destroy a candidate before the race ever even gets started or they can make the candidate. The media will dig up as much information as possible to use in their attempt to get the person they want in office. I believe that the media has the greatest affect on who wins an election, simply because their viewers listen to them and believe in what they are saying.

Blogs Role In political campaigns

Blogs are quickly picking up and more people or reading them. In a study done by Pew an estimated 16% of U.S. adults are now blog readers. Blogs have great potential to change the political landscape but the writer seems tho think that many are jumping ahead in using them.

Websites these days are a must have but it is still optional weather or not they have a blog. Where blogs give a more personal view of the candidate they are still in the future. The website is more important and it is better to get the website right than worry with the blog.

News Coverage of Political Campaigns

The News Journalist will cover campaigns in order to get information about the "race" to the public. They use what is called polls to keep up with who the viewers are supporting the most. Journalists tend to report small changes from one poll to the next as a display of actual change in voters' preferences rather that as a reflection of the survey.

The news will tend to get behind one particular candidate and push for them and in my opinion try and persuade the viewers to back the same candidate. They will start focusing more on the "race" than on the actual issues and platforms that the candidate support.

Political Campaign Debates

Political campaign debates are face-to-face encounters of the candidates televised in some way. Campaign debates unlike other campaign events reach large audiences. The debates have normally all been shown on the telivision but recently the debates have been taken to a new level and some are being broadcast over the internet using youtube.


It is important that the candidates do these debates. The debates are a way for all the candidates to be on one stage discussing their goals and agendas of the election. If a candidate decides not to do a debate then it makes them look bad and not interested in what the voters are wanting.

Political Adevertising

http://pereiraville.com/scribble/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/fred-thompson.jpg

OK so this ad is just plain funny to me. I'm not sure were it came from or who done it but it is very good in my opinion. If there is someone out there looking around and find this then I believe that it will catch their attention and they might actually do research on Fred if they don't know who he is.

Campaigning can get so serious and it is always nice to see a lighter side of it. The candidates take it way to far and I normally loose interest in what they have to say, but when I see something like this I always stop and pay attention.






Here is a video if you wanna check it out.http://projects.washingtonpost.com/politicalads/164/

What is Political Communication?

In my opinion political communications is anything dealing with the political world and communications put together. Political communication is how the politics get their message out to the world, rather it is by the news coverage on them, their public relations department, or themselves.





Political communications is a field of communications that deals with politics. It often influences political decisions and political decisions influnces communications. Political communications help the world better understand what is going on in politics.

Lippmann vs. Dewey

Both Lippmann and Dewey make valid points. To an extant journalist do try and control what the public thinks and does. However on the other hand the public should not be puppets what what the journalist are saying. Most people do not want to take the time to think things out on their own they want to see how the mass majority or thinking before coming up with a conclusion on there own.


Dewey was on the right track when ha stated "politics is the work and duty of each individual in the course of his daily routine." I agree with Dewey that everybody not just the government should be held accountable for the happenings in the country. He was also right is saying that communicating makes for a great community and by participating in activities we make a great community. We the people do actually create the public world so just like Dewey says we should interact with the government in order to have a better state.

Expectations for the Class

In this class I hope to be able to learn more about the role of a journalist in the political world. I have always been interested in politics, and find it interesting to follow campaigns. The main reason why I am in this class is because I hope to one day be either a Sports or Political Journalist.

I want to learn the ropes of Political Communications but just not in a stressful manner. Learning to me should be fun in order to remember what is being taught. I hope to be able to feel comfortable and enjoy the class environment. The more relaxed and easy flowing the easier it is to learn not just memorize material and rush through the assigned projects. Overall I just hope to come out of this class with a knowledge and understanding of the world of Political Communications.