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.