What a zoo television makes of U.S. elections! [NOT for discussing which candidate(s) you support or dislike] - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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What a zoo television makes of U.S. elections! [NOT for discussing which candidate(s) you support or dislike]
WARNING!! To keep this thread in line with my topic intent and PassPorter guidelines, let's talk ONLY about how well or poorly tv newscasters and commentators present candidates and not get into which candidate is better, best or worst, nor which you support.
That said, I'm more bothered this year than I've been in years past by what seems to me to be "the mass shooting factor" applied to the candidates. Tv's talking heads seem to me to be claiming much too soon that what appear to be the most popular candidates actually are. And after the Iowa caucus results were in, the newspapers and magazines I read were much closer to right than any tv coverage I saw beforehand regarding how Iowa voters might vote.
Because broadcasters focus so much on getting coverage on air immediately, too much of it quickly proves highly inaccurate or completely so. It bothers me somewhat that viewers seem to expect instant info anymore which only feeds broadcasters' desire to be on the air first with the newest info. Would holding off longer and checking facts more thoroughly before reporting be so bad? I think doing both more consistently would be a major improvement. Even though I rarely agree with Fox's Megyn Kelly, she generally does far better than most at bringing out exactly what the candidates' individual views are. She's doing her job as a responsible journalist should, IMO.
Along with the news teams scrambling to get the details on the air as fast as possible because shootings are sensational, news coverage of candidates thus far seems to center on which ones are the most exciting with insufficient attention to what each one's views and qualifications actually are.
Tv focuses far too much on the "Kardashian factor" as I call it. That is, upon which candidate seems most entertaining and thrilling rather than attempting as voters truly need tv to do to present each one seriously and objectively. We need to know more about what a candidate's views on major issues are and much less about who's currently in the lead according to pollsters. Yes, as the conventions draw near we need to hear which candidate seems to have more voter support. Designating anybody the leader now influences too many voters unrealistically.
Few ordinary people have a clue as yet which candidate ought to prevail based upon having earned voters' confidence. We needn't worry about who's leading the field in each party until the results of the early caucuses and primaries are all final, IMO.
Am I just a cranky old woman too bothered by all the hype? How do you regard this year's election coverage so far?
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I turn the channel. I'm so sick of all of it. Facebook, tv, radio, enough already about the candidates. Everything is so slanted. I'm not going to change my vote because a celebrity likes them or endorses them.
Last edited by karadisney; 02-05-2016 at 06:53 PM..
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We've been watching a lot less tv lately, that's for sure.
The "News " channels and news programs have moved away from getting us the news and the kinds of things we need to make a real informed decision, to personality, quirks, and gossip. That's not how something as important as elections should be handled.
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I've been over this election since last summer! Our election season goes on for too long. For a long time I've felt that candidates should only get a set amount of time to campaign. No more than 3 months. I can't even watch the Today Show in the morning anymore because the top story is always about the election!
Be glad you don't live in Iowa! My sister said she's been deluged with emails and phone calls, both robo and from an actual person, for over a year.
Of course, the fact that she's actively involved in the local political scene likely contributes to that more for her. She says she heaves a sigh of relief when the Iowa Caucus is over and she's mostly spared until summer when they're all trying to get out the vote for the August primary.
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I also enjoy the fact we watch so many toddler shows in our house bc we miss a lot of the garbage out there then. I, too, am completely over this election! It's going to be a long year or so till its actually over.
Just curious as to how much coverage you think you yourself need to make that informed decision HiddenMickey referred to above. Three months seems to me to be too little.
What could tv do differently that would get you to follow election coverage more than you do now if you hate what's currently done?
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I believe for the average person that 3 months would be too little time to make an informed decision. I would lean more to more than 3 but less than 6 months time. I guess it will all depend on how much oneself is clear on their own views & how they correlate to the candidates.
It's bad enough thats it is all over your news in the USA but it dominates the TV here in Australia an in Scotland too.
How bizarre!
Not mentioning any names, but I'm sure the rest of the world wonders what is wrong with Americans that a certain candidate is currently so popular according to the media.
That's why I read The Washington Post digital edition almost daily. Their coverage seems reasonably fair to both parties and balanced.
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Having a degree in Political Science, election time is one of my favorites! I tend to be a bit of a wonk during election "season". I keep up to date with what is going on and monitor the reputable polls paying close attention to the numbers and the margin of error for fun.
I get annoyed with the news too during this time. So I rely more on print. My experience is that the news will give you "snippets" as to what occurred that day; but for the most part, the stations just have each side's designated talking head giving the good news about their candidate and the bad news about the other candidates. Spin, spin, spin.
Not mentioning any names, but I'm sure the rest of the world wonders what is wrong with Americans that a certain candidate is currently so popular according to the media.
That's why I read The Washington Post digital edition almost daily. Their coverage seems reasonably fair to both parties and balanced.
Certain candidates
but in fairness the candidates for our own elections were questionable as well although not quite so flamboyantly.
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If you lived in Canada, this past election for Prime Minister only last 2 months. Seems our neighbors to the North were able to make an informed decision in that little of a time frame. So, I think 3 months should be a pretty good time frame.
As a side note, I was a political science major, and one of our projects was to poll people about voting. We had questions ranging from what would make you not vote to questions about candidates. Trust me when I say that some of the answers I received really made me want to tell these people to stay home on election day. I actually remember someone telling me that wouldn't vote for a candidate because they didn't like the tie he was wearing at one of the debates. Makes you wonder.
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How do you regard this year's election coverage so far?
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I tend to be a bit of a wonk during election "season". I keep up to date with what is going on and monitor the reputable polls paying close attention to the numbers and the margin of error for fun. 
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