The Media's Influence
By Chelsea Zillner, Brittany Bowyer, Yu Zhang and Diana Railean
The election day has finally arrived. Newspaper, broadcasting, social media, and even commercials nationwide have been covering this election circle for a long time, in an effort to inform voters. While Phoenix locals vote today, they also shared their evaluations on media’s contributions to their votes.
On the polling stations, a majority of random voters believed the media have influenced their decision on a big scale. At the same time, a majority of them are not satisfactory with the media coverage where they got their information on candidates.
On the polling stations, a majority of random voters believed the media have influenced their decision on a big scale. At the same time, a majority of them are not satisfactory with the media coverage where they got their information on candidates.
“Commercials did play a big part in my decision making. In addition to informing myself,I think what I thought recently with the candidate in the commercial that came out definitely helped convince who I should vote for.” said a 35-year-old Phoenix local, Alejandro Avalos.
However, he does not hold a high opinion on the coverage he saw.
“I saw a Time magazine with both of them filled with mud. I think what this commercial did was just put a bad line on everybody.” said Avalos. “They were just slopping commercials.”
However, he does not hold a high opinion on the coverage he saw.
“I saw a Time magazine with both of them filled with mud. I think what this commercial did was just put a bad line on everybody.” said Avalos. “They were just slopping commercials.”
Another Phoenix local, Melynda King, a 47-year-old stay-at-home mother shared the same view that media has shaped her decision but in a cloud-be-improved way.
“The media definitely have influenced my vote in this circle.” said the 47-year-old mother.
“The media definitely have influenced my vote in this circle.” said the 47-year-old mother.
In her preparation for presidential vote, King watched news on TV. Up to now, she felt she should switched to another alternative for better information.
“I probably could have known candidates a little bit more if I would just research instead of hearing negative about both of them all the time.” said the stay-at-home mom. Her daughter, Adyson King, showed another media preference: social media. The high-school student just had her 18th birthday four days before the election. It’s the first time she has casted a voted for the presidential race. |
“I didn’t really do any research because I wasn’t sure if I was going to vote.” said the first-time voter. “I just browsed on Twitter, which probably wasn’t a very good idea.”
The high-school student described the social media reporting on both candidates as “awfully negative.”
“They were just bashing on each other over and over again.” said Adyson King. “Twitter has definitely shaped my vote but it was pretty bad.”
The high-school student described the social media reporting on both candidates as “awfully negative.”
“They were just bashing on each other over and over again.” said Adyson King. “Twitter has definitely shaped my vote but it was pretty bad.”
Over the last few months, the Republican candidate, Donald Trump was criticized basically for every word coming out of his mouth, on subjects of sexism, racism, and xenophobia. While Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, is dragged into her email scandal.
While media coverage involving negative sentiments on this election could be overwhelming to many, Kenberlle Pickering complained about the lack of coverage of non-partisan candidates. |
“We haven’t had a non-partisan president in over 100 years. The media is hugely influential just because we don’t know the names of these people.” said the 30-year-old massage therapist.
“What sells papers or what actually got people to watch TV is the drama,” said Pickering. “It’s ignorant, for lack of a better word. It’s ignorance.”
“What sells papers or what actually got people to watch TV is the drama,” said Pickering. “It’s ignorant, for lack of a better word. It’s ignorance.”
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