Does media influence college voters?
by Kristy Tiesing, posted Nov. 4, 2008
As the presidential campaign is coming to a close, it is now crunch time for voters to make a decision. Throughout the election the media has jumped at every opportunity to be involved.
There have been many labels put on each candidate and many exaggerations or embellishments. With all of the glamorized information, have college students been swayed to feel one way or another about the election and the candidates?
“I try not to pay attention to the media,” said MU student Melodie Scallorns, a Republican. “It’s not very factual, and that’s what matters, the facts.”
Though watching political shows such as the Colbert Report or the Daily Show can be entertaining, it can sometimes have a negative effect on today’s young voter.
“I like the Colbert Report, it’s one of my favorites. But if you're only getting your information there, chances are your only getting the negative sides to each candidate,” Scallorns said.
Many of the political ads have been aimed at slandering the opposition’s name. These ads include ones comparing McCain to Bush and calling Obama a terrorist.
“The media just exaggerates,” said MU student Maggie Marquardt, a Democrat. “Obama is labeled as a ‘terrorist’ because of past acquaintances, and McCain is ‘old.’ ”
“It can almost be a positive thing because at least each candidate is always being talked about,” Scallorns said.
The media has given each candidate a specific image.
“Obama will always be the fresh face, and McCain will be the Maverick,” Marquardt said.
College students are looking for easy access to information, the quickest form of media. There is not always time to catch the news at a scheduled time or to read a newspaper from front to back.
“I use the Internet to get most of my information,” Marquardt said. “It depends on what site you look at for how accurate of information you want.”
The issues are what matter to most students, not all the hype surrounding them.
“When voting, you just try and pay attention to the issues and forget about the rumors. The issues are what are important,” Marquardt said. It is now time to see who pays attention to the facts and who focuses on the media’s spectacles.
