The media are the gatekeepers between the public and the candidates
Journalism, at its core, portends to represent unbiased reporting and the unadulterated relay of information to the public. News and information is supposed to carry no slant or opinion, but merely share information from both sides of an idea fairly, allowing the public to form their own opinion and judgment. In political election years, this is relied on heavily by candidates who look to journalism to portray them fairly, leaving personal political affiliations off the news page. However the media can no longer be relied on give fair and unbiased news and many times, candidates manipulate the media in order to gain the advantage they seek. The public does not receive a whole and fair story, but one filtered through the channels of media who increasingly take blatant political stances on important issues at hand.
Information passed between candidates and the public is primarily fed through the media, who are able to target an audience ten fold of what a politician might be able to even in a large arena or political convention. Every speech given and every action taken by the candidate is recorded and broadcast worldwide to an audience that ranges from wealthy and educated academics to the homeless or impoverished. Even those who might not have the means or time to attend the conventions and speeches are able to see and hear the candidate’s opinions on the issues important to them.
However this information is often not without bias. The media chooses which excerpts of the speech to broadcast and which points to elaborate on. Interviewers are poised to ask questions that will either portray the candidate in a positive light or else make them appear foolish and incompetent. Even analysts who are invited to comment on news stations on political issues have a decided slant that they do not hide. Many times, the information bar will even state their political affiliation. These commentators are often crude in their remarks and will make blatant statements to sway one’s opinion to their side. They will take hits on the opposing party and will even slander the opposing candidate unfairly. News stations will purposely invite such analysts and commentators to strengthen their political motives, giving them rule over which information gets passed onto the viewing public from the candidates.
As gatekeepers to information, the media plays an increasingly important role politically and socially as they are able to control knowledge and sway opinion in ways that the everyday public would not expect them to. Journalism is relied on for its portrayal of news without bias however political affiliations and ties to political parties jeopardize their objectivism and their ability to transmit news and knowledge in a fair manner.
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