Media Framing

News networks have sensationalized this year’s election by presenting us every day with many conflicts and issue. Ads for debates are similar to an ad you would see on an MTV reality show. CNN shows the faces of all individuals running for a party in the dark. The public can’t wait to see the fights between each candidate. Every debate is as exciting Pacquiao vs. Mayweather.

      

Conflict within a party is dramatic and the media does a great job of highlighting specific issues for each party. Democratic are concerned with the flint water crisis and its racist undertones so democratic candidates are asked direct questions about black lives matter. On the republican side the issue agenda has primarily been dictated by Donald trump whose controversy has made most things that come out of his mouth, an issue.

He has also ignited debated based on his attributes. His physical appearance comes under fire in memes and social media outlets while his policies are not very popular with young progressives.

The media does a great job reporting information in a frame of a conflicts, issue, and or criticism/praising of a candidates attributes. Many networks, including CNN tend to cover election days as a big race or sporting event. No one does horse race journalism better then CNN. Live coverage of every primary include a key race alerts every few minutes.