Spin
Can you think of any incidences of spin in journalism (all media) or politics recently?
After you cite your example(s),
analyze why the author believed it necessary
to shift the perspective of the audience.
These responses should deal with purpose/exigence in some way.
posted by D. Robin @ 9/26/2008
3 comments
3 Comments:
Spin journalism is visible a lot lately in the media, especially when it comes to the presidential candidates. Journalists find it necessary to spin the ideas and concepts of the political race. They think it is necessary to make things seem more dramatic or else people won’t see the issues.
For example, when presidential candidate John McCain chose Sarah Palin as a running mate, the media chose to portray all the negatives that she brings to the campaign. Although there are some negatives, I am sure there are plenty of positive things. The journalists think that if they were to portray the good things that she brings to the floor, people would not see the differences in the campaign.
I think that they feel that the truth either won’t provoke enough emotion, or it will be too obscene. Honestly, I don’t feel that journalists covering politics spin to help the issues, they spin to attack the candidates personally. Sarah Palin’s daughter isn’t running for VP, but yet they attack her while reporting on her mother.
At the moment, my brother is watching the Presidential Debate and I am only paying half attention. I heard McCain telling Obama that he was basically twisting or spinning some of his issues. I only remember something briefly about immigrant issues. McCain told Obama that the smear campaigns he was putting up were not the exact issues McCain had in mind. I think Obama was trying to sway the voters who do not pay much attention, but some to politics onto his side. If someone just sees or hears about an issue of one candidate that they are against, they might be compelled to vote for the other candidate. Obama might be trying to use this tactic in his campaign.
Mona Patel
Spin in politics has become a necessity for Politicans. In the Presedential election, they want to persuade the common people to vote for their nominee. They do this for power and if their political party wins the election, they will be in control.
According to FactCheck.org, the final debate between Obama and McCain contained a lot of spin or exaggerated claims that were inaccurate. In the debate, Obama boldy states a claim that his health care plan will cut the average family’s premiums by $2,500 a year. Many people have thought that to be too good to be true and if Obama is elected, America will have to wait and see if Obama will be able to fulfill this claim.
McCain on the other hand claims that Obama’s real goals is to have a "government-run, single-payer health insurance system like those in Canada or England." But Obama's current proposal has nothing to do with that.
Both Presidential Candidates feel it is necessary to shift the perspective of the audience to guarantee a victory over the other. They feel it is necessray to spin, or exagerrate, the truth in order to gain more supporters.
The ulitmate goal in an election is to gain the most supporters and spinning the truth is one way to persuade the audience that one Candidate is better than the other.
Ben Wu
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