Media's Influence On Democracy

Almost everyone in America has seen commercials urging him or her to vote for a specific governor, not to trust a certain senator, or to support one of the presidential candidates. Every two years, whether it be election time for one's state, or two years later when the Presidential election rolls around, the media bombards us with ads, billboards, commercials, and news specials about political candidates. The media heightens people's awareness of when it is election time, and enforces the importance of voting and making a choice to better one's own life through the political system. Although many of these media tactics negatively portray candidates, it essentially enhances the prospects of Americans freedom to choose, which is what democracy is all about.

Most media portrayal of any type of governmental action or program is a negative portrayal. For instance, the media plays the "watchdog role" in that it informs citizens of the wrongdoings of government officials and candidates. The United States' Freedom of the Press Amendment makes it possible for people in the news to provide Americans with any information about scandals and other secretive facts that go on in the political system without any repercussions from the government. (G and P 155).

Particularly with America's most current president, George Bush, the media attention is mostly very negative. Many famous celebrities have taken advantage their freedom of speech and press by expressing their dislike towards him or his policies and the things that he does. Eminem, a very popular and influential artist in today's time, released a very opinionated and explicit song in which he curses Bush "until they bring our troops home.", and proceeded to say "We're responsible for this monster, this coward, that we have empowered. This is Bin Laden, look at his head nodding, how could we allow something like this, without pumping our fistÐ'..." (1). Natalie Maines, lead singer of The Dixie Chicks also expressed an insult towards Bush the night before The United States invaded Iraq. She exclaimed that she was ashamed to be from the same state as The President (2). The point is that these statements, along with others made by celebrities, enlighten young people especially as to what is going on in the world. It helps democracy in the fact that the listeners are intrigued to learn more about the existing government and how to make changes for the better.

Another example of how the media has enhanced the prospect for democracy in the United States was MTV's "Choose or Lose" campaign. As one of the most watched networks on television, MTV used this as an advantage to coerce the population of eighteen to thirty year olds to go ahead and exercise their right to vote in the