2. Overview
• beyond reporting the news
-shape opinion
-become part of the event
• the following examples are a
a representation
-not a comprehensive list
‘52 Checkers Speech
• Nixon accused of impropriety
-over a fund to repay campaign
financing
-gave ½ hour speech to clarify
• most watched program
• would not return dog “Checkers”
-receive positive support
3. ‘60 Presidential Election
• televised debates
-JFK = calm, young, athletic
-RMN = scrawny, tired
• Nixon had spent time in hospital
-refused makeup
• TV viewers said JFK won
-radio listeners said Nixon
‘62 Cuban Missile Crisis
• JFK goes on TV to tell public
• announces “quarantine”
-appears calm, authoritative
• peak of JFK’s popularity
4. ’63 JFK Assassination
• news coverage 24/7
-flashbulb memory
• immediate reports on Lee
Harvey Oswald
-Jack Ruby on live TV
‘69 Moonlanding
• American Neil Armstrong first
-”one small step for man, one
giant leap for mankind”
• coverage on live TV
-flashbulb memory
5. ‘73 Watergate Hearings
• Senate hearings carried live
-networks alternate coverage
-85% of people watch some
• live revelation of tape recordings
-impeachment charges follow
• Nixon resigns on live TV
‘72 Olympic Terrorism
• 11 Israeli athletes, 1 West German
officer & 5 PLO terrorists killed
• games halted
-coverage is not
• birth of modern terrorism
6. ‘81 Reagan Shot
• networks capture attempt
- 3 others wounded
• CNN covers 48 hours straight
• Hinckley
-inspired by Taxi Driver (‘76)
‘86 Space Shuttle Challenger
• Shuttle breaks apart 73 seconds
into flight
-live on CNN
• 17% of Americans watch live
-85% of Americans learned of
event within 1 hour
7. ’90-’91 Gulf War
• correspondents shut out
-reaction to Vietnam
• many accuse media of being
complicit in selling the war
‘94 OJ Simpson
• star accused of murder
• low speed chase
• court case carried live
-acquitted
‘91 Rodney King
• alludes police in chase
• home video of capture
-shows LA PD beating him
-leads to riots
8. ‘97-’99 Clinton Impeachment
• has affair with intern
-”lies” about it
• hearings covered live
-media becomes opinionated
• second term shackled
‘01 9/11 Attacks
• terrorist attacks
-immediate news
• 2nd plane covered live
• people watch as history unfolds
-some viewers suffer PTSD
• start of continuous bottom crawl
