Television Influence On Presidential Elections

The invention of the television in 1960 created a new meaning of democracy. It made it so more people had access to political events; however, with this invention came new political strategies based on creating positive images rather than focusing on action plans to make America better. While the invention of the television may seem like it had a positive impact in elections, it was actually detrimental to America’s progress as a country. The most important aspect of the presidential elections is the audience, the entire population. Television makes it so candidates in Washington, D.C. can reach everyone anywhere there is a television. Since America is immense and extends from the Pacific to the Atlantic Oceans, it is very convenient to be able to make a connection with everyone without having to traverse the entire country. Television creates a “feeling of direct contact” between presidential candidates and the populace (Source A). By involving more of the population, the elections are made more democratic. However, with more involvement of the people, comes the simplification of the language and topics used during the elections.

The first record of the number of people who watched the debates is in 1976 and 63.9 million people watched. However, in 1996, the audience size dropped to 46.1 million viewers (Source D). It follows that television was not actually vital in the spread of information because after the initial increase in viewers, the audience size dropped rapidly. The argument that television is essential to the continuation of America’s democracy is irrelevant because the number of people who use television to stay informed is falling. Television’s ability to spread information has become insignificant overtime, and therefore, does not aid in America’s decision for