Wednesday, April 30, 2008 ~ 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM ~ Register here.

Topic: “THE SPIN ZONE”
Series: Race for the Presidency
Presenter: Carol Swain

 

OBJECTIVES

Students will:
1. Identify by name the two major political parties in the United States.
2. Identify the two major parties’ presidential candidates.
3. Identify the symbols of the two main political parties.
4. Examine the political "philosophies" of the two main political parties.
5. Discover the "propaganda" techniques used by both of the parties in campaigning.
6. Compare and contrast the ways that voters get information about candidates
7. Discuss the concepts of campaign rhetoric and bias
8. Compare the candidates' actual positions on the issues
9. Analyze the role of the news media in the election process

VOCABULARY
Election
Campaign
Advertisement
Media literacy
President
Critical thinking
Citizenship
Platform
Political party
Incumbent
Mudslinging
Bias
Rhetoric
“Stump” Speech

 

Program Description

There is no democracy without elections.  And there can be no free elections without the media. Together, the candidates and those who report their actions and words make possible the citizen choice that is the heartbeat of America's freedom. Again this year, candidates and press are joined, sometimes suspiciously, sometimes in hostility, but always from necessity as essential partners in this "dance of democracy" every four years.

In this videoconference, students will explore the complexity of the media’s role in campaigning for the office of President of the United States. For too many citizens, politics has become a spectator sport rather than a participant game. The challenge for both the candidates and the news media is to find ways to stimulate more interest and deeper involvement in more voters. This videoconference will explore the front lines of the ongoing saga of the candidates who would be president and the journalists who cover their campaigns.

Winning the office of President is a two-stage process. The first stage is to win the nomination of one of the two major American political parties. Once nominated, the candidate moves to the second step: winning the election to the office of President. The election must be won through an organized effort to persuade voters to choose one candidate over others competing for the same office.

A Presidential campaign proceeds through three stages: building a base, planning a strategy, and clinching the vote. In building a base, campaign workers must be recruited and sources of funds must be identified. In planning a strategy, a campaign theme must be adopted and can be party-centered, issue-centered, or personality- oriented. In clinching the vote, the candidate must meet the voting groups and counter the opponents’ arguments.

The media helps to shape decisions at EACH of these three stages of the campaign, whether the candidate is campaigning to win the nomination or to win the office itself. The purpose of this videoconference is to give students an experience in exploring the “spin zone” found in media.

Media sources include Internet, newspapers, TV, radio, magazines, billboards, yard signs, buttons, bumper stickers, speeches, public appearances, and campaign literature. We will discuss the differences and similarities between these sources. Which ones are most likely to have bias?

Questions that may be discussed include:

1. What is the most effective source of media for candidates (in convincing voters to vote for or against a candidate)?

2. What is the most useful source of media for voters?

3. What are the key messages communicated in the current media?

4. Does media provide factual information or evoke an emotional response?

5. What are the limitations of a 30 second commercial?

6.How important is a candidate's look in media? What type of image are candidates trying to create?

7.How can voters separate rhetoric from reality?

8.How do negative "mudslinging" ads work? Why do candidates use them? To whom is a candidate trying to appeal with ?mudslinging? ads?

9.What elements does a bias include?

10. What is the role of media in making sure that documents that are presented are not fraudulent?

 

SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES
1) Web sites with comprehensive election information:
 www.politics1.com
   
www.issues2000.org
 
                                           
2) Role of the press; civic participation sites

Pew Research Center for People and the Press
  http://people-press.org

Pew Center for Civic Journalism
 
  www.pewcenter.org

 Pew Internet and American Life

  www.pewinternet.org

 

3) Online news sites targeted to teens

Upfront –
www.teacher.scholastic.com/upfront

Channel One –
http://www.channelone.com

CNN Student News –
http://www.cnn.com/studentnews/

Youth Radio –
http://www.youthradio.org

 

National Standards to which this program aligns
CIVICS Standards
What is Government and What Should it Do?
5. Understands the major characteristics of systems of shared powers and of parliamentary systems
6. Understands the advantages and disadvantages of federal, confederal, and unitary systems of government
7. Understands alternative forms of representation and how they serve the purposes of constitutional government

What are the Basic Values and Principals of American Democracy?
12. Understands the relationships among liberalism, republicanism, and American constitutional democracy
13. Understands the character of American political and social conflict and factors that tend to prevent or lower its intensity
14. Understands issues concerning the disparities between ideals and reality in American political and social life

How Does the Government Established by the Constitution Embody the Purposes, Values, and Principles of American Democracy?
19. Understands what is meant by "the public agenda," how it is set, and how it is influenced by public opinion and the media
20. Understands the roles of political parties, campaigns, elections, and associations and groups in American politics

SOCIAL STUDIES Standards
National Council for the Social Studies: Curriculum Standards for Social Studies Civic Ideals and Practices: Provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic

Performance Expectations:
* locate, access, analyze, organize, synthesize, evaluate, and apply information about selected public issues-identifying, describing, and evaluating multiple points of view
* practice forms of civic discussion and participation consistent with the ideals of citizens in a democratic republic
*evaluate the effectiveness of public opinion in influencing and shaping public policy development and decision-making
* participate in activities to strengthen the "common good" based upon careful evaluation of possible options for citizen action

 

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