Election Neutrality
The 2020 election has been like one no other. With tensions high on both sides, cities are boarded up, and protesters are intimidating poll workers. While I was observing WGN News on Monday night at 5:30–6:00. I took notes on how the reporters delivered their information to the public. WGN News is owned by The Nexstar Media Group. The group found that people were dissatisfied with opinion-based programming, therefore they wanted to stay unbiased in their reports. During my viewing of the news, I perceived this ideology. As the news anchors reported on the election they did not give their opinions, but instead provided facts and hypotheses to the audience. This allows the public to perceive the election and the candidates in any which way they chose during those thirty minutes.
If you turned on any of the news over the past couple of days, you are overwhelmed with images red and blue, charts, maps, data, and all the essential numbers about the election. While it can be very overwhelming, it is necessary. When I turned on the WGN, an image was projected. of both candidates speaking during the debates. By using the same image, at the same event, it shows equality in the media. Since both candidates were shown with their mouths open, it reminded the public of the chaos of the debates. Thus, foreshadowing for the public, the likely messy election ahead.
The media uses diction in order to capture the audience’s attention. For example “Both candidates pack their schedules today for the last full day of campaigning” With the word choice of. “pack” it makes the candidates seem like they are, cramming and strangling for those last minute efforts to help them win the election. The reporter also used terms in reference to both candidates. For example, that they are “hitting the battleground states”. This is in reference to their last attempts at visiting crowds of supporters. By using “battleground” as a way to enforce this war-like fight the election has turned into. Diction allows the media to portray their news in a way that gives subtle messages to the audience. However, WGN used diction that described both candidates to further the goal of equality coverage in the media.
To further the idea that WGN wanted to not be biased during their show. They used a technique of stacking. For example, they opened up about both canidentes’ campaigns. Then they explained how both candidates struggled with their swing states. They then followed up with scenarios, and the paths both candidates need to take in order to possibly win. Finally they concluded with the idea that both Donald Trump and Joe Biden have “gone into attack mode”. By this method of stacking we can see how WGN doesn’t want to portray that one candidate is better than the other, by doing so, giving each candidate the same amount of time on the air. This equality of information on each candidate ensures the public does not perceive one as more dominant than the other.
One thing the Gatekeeper at WGN restrained was the use of too much quoting. We heard brief statements from Trump’s team “he wants to know the results asap, on election day”. Then later we hear from Joe Biden “I’m ahead in the polls and have been for quite some time now.” With little quotes from people on both sides, it does keep the news segment pretty neutral. The gatekeepers at WGN left out certain quotes because they were more focused on the facts, and the numbers. As I see it, adding quote selections builds to a more biased statement projected to the audience. WGN kept out too many quotes from both the President and the former Vice President, for the sake of neutrality and to have the audience focus more on their tactics rather than ideas.
To sum up, the media has so much influence on our perception of the world. Especially in complicated times like today, the people of America need the news in order to remain informed and calm during the election. While some people will choose to follow media that leans on a certain side of the scale (liberal or conservative). We also need resources that are as unbiased as possible. For example, Fox News can raise questions about voting fraud, while CNN can report that the rumor is false. Next thing you know Trump supporters are outside poll centers, harassing. the workers. It is scary how much media affects our everyday lives, which is why we need a balance. Stations like WGN balance both sides, and prevent leaking any misleading information that is intended to persuade the audience solely based on the station’s political views.
