Television and Presidential Politics

Studying the increasingly powerful role television plays in the political process, Smoller offers a persuasive argument that the "big three" network coverage of the presidency is gradually eroding public support for and confidence in that office. This book argues that network coverage of the presidency is determined by the political, technical, and commercial nature of the medium itself, producing a bias toward negative coverage. Attempts by the White House to combat these negative portrayals by managing news coverage and isolating the president will subvert democratic values.

Kaid and Johnston report the results of a systematic and thorough analysis of virtually all of the political commercials used in general election campaigns from 1952 through the 1996 presidential contest.

Talking Politics gives us an inside view of the relationship between journalists and candidates, one that shapes the way most Americans choose their president. In a series of personal and in-depth interviews, some of America's top broadcasters and political commentators talk about the extraordinarily influential relationship between the nation's most powerful journalists and political figures. Tom Brokaw, Larry King, Robert MacNeil, Linda Ellerbee, Bernard Shaw, and other media figures address issues such as: when does a tabloid story become worthy of the attention of the serious media?; can a talk show really give us a "closer look" at a candidate or is that closeness an illusion?; and can voters trust candidate images presented on television-network news, talk shows, or otherwise? Each chapter in Talking Politics features a frank, revealing interview with one of the nation's most influential broadcasters or political commentators. The result is a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the tension-fraught relationship between TV news and political candidates. In an age when the media has become as much a topic as the politicians it covers, Talking Politics will be fascinating reading for all who follow politics.

Benoit provides a comprehensive analysis of presidential spots from the inception of this important message form in 1952 through the most recent national campaign in 1996. He includes both primary and general spots as well as those from third party candidates.

This volume chronicles the 60-year history of presidential and opposition access to network television. The system has brought unprecedented exposure to 20th-century presidents but has discriminated consistently against the opposition in Congress. Networks instead have placed themselves in the role of "loyal opposition" operating as the President's counterpoint. In decline, hurt by defecting audiences and advertisers, the network system is now struggling to survive into the next century. Foote envisions a new order which will have a profound effect on both political communication and the balance of political power.

A comprehensive examination of press-presidential relations in the era since 1960.

This book is an examination of the central role of incumbency in the televised world of American presidential elections and analyzes how an individual incumbent, Bill Clinton, influenced the recurring and predictable patterns of televised news in ways that secured his reelection.

Beginning in the 1970s, the public has turned to the media for information and guidance in selecting their presidents. Television has become the primary means of getting to know the issues and candidates. This monograph examines the mediazation of the U.S. presidency, as exemplified by President Reagan's role as "the great communicator." Specifically, Denton analyzes the use of television as an instrument of image-making and governing, the role of the media in contemporary politics, the impact of television on presidential politics, and the future of the presidency in the age of television.

The 2000 presidential election marked the fourth time since 1960 when a president retired and his party nominated his leading surrogate, the vice president, as potential successor. Dover explains why television-age vice presidents win nominations and shows what they have to do to win the general election. He applies that model to the leading events of the 2000 campaign and shows why Gore lost.

Morreale traces the development of the documentary films produced for presidential candidates from Calvin Coolidge in 1923 to George Bush and Bill Clinton in 1992. The work provides insight into today's visually oriented presidential campaign by analyzing the production of candidates' images as the films evolve from classical to modern forms. Campaign films are usually overlooked by campaign scholars, yet they provide the fullest available visual portrait of a candidate during a campaign, they encapsulate persuasive appeals and strategies, and they illustrate Republican and Democratic candidates' different approaches to mediated communication. Morreale concludes that presidential campaign films provide a lens through which we can view both changes and continuities in American politics and culture. Recommended for scholars and students of communication, political science, and history.