The CNN article Sarah Palin kicks off Tea Party pre-election bus tour is a prime example of “free media.” Free media according to the class’s text is compared to pay in the form of advertising (60). This article gives the fifteen day schedule of Sarah Palin “Liberty at the Ballot Box” tour. We see the media being a “lapdog” (public officials are interested in using the media to get their message out) to the Tea Party (70). This article promotes the Tea Parties efforts to support close primary races throughout the United States.
The article uses the power of the media to states the time and location Sarah Palin is going to be and what she will be promoting. The article outlines some of the close races in the primaries and top targets. For example, “as the group hopes to knock off the Senate majority leader and elect Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle.” The article continues to outline other close elections and Sarah Palin’s goals. The Tea Party realizes that when using a figure such as Sarah Palin will create large mass media and therefore help the goal of the organization. Even though Sarah Palin is viewed in a negative light throughout her political history she still has media power.
I also wrote about free media in my blog entry, and I had mentioned some similar points. As you had mentioned at the end of your segment, although Sarah Palin is viewed in a negative light, she still has media power. With free media, whether the politician or their ad is ineffective or negative, they still receive that free media that gets their name out there. Also, as I was watching “The Today Show” this morning, Palin’s tour was mentioned, once again giving her and her campaign free media. I also agree with you that the media is acting as “lapdog” to the campaign. The media is catering/favoring Sarah Palin and her campaign for the Tea Party movement. Nice job Chad!
ReplyDeleteI think the most interesting part is that Palin literally needed to do no work herself to get out what she was doing, she just had to tell one of the media outlets, who all spread the word for her. I also agree with Renee. I think that no press is bad press, and while Palin is regarded as being unintelligent, and not worthy of a position, specifically President thanks to George W. Bush's intelligence, she still is getting tons of attention, only fueling her popularity. Like previously said, the media is only favoring Palin and her Tea Party movement.
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