With the emergence of off-air reporters (young reporters that do not appear on television) growing daily, politicians are finding it hard to get a break, since almost every candid moment is caught on video. Medias like YouTube allow for instantaneous feeds and updates that are making every moment of this years presidential campaign a public affair.
These off-air reporters, or embeds, are hired as a cost-efficient alternative to expensive media team operations. They are hired by networks to follow candidates across the country filing video and blog posts as they go.
As a result, it has changed the dynamics of this year's election by holding candidates accountable for all of the unplugged and unscripted moments of folly and faux pas. These moments have become part of the narrative of the election. The campaigns are well aware of just how much these moments caught on video can magnify a mistake or attach a permanent stigma to canidate.
Networks are increasingly going to this type of journalism because there is an expanded coverage with little cost. The information gathered that would have ended up on the news floor years ago, due to too much content, is now available in the form of blogs and video clips making it a more informative form of media.
Due to the imbiquitous camcorders and immediate Internet access, the candidates are facing potential pitfalls. In years past (without the presence of video cameras or cell phones that record), if an off-comment was said by a candidate, it might have taken up a sentence or two in the newspaper; but now with our instant access and blogs, the same scenario (if caught in front of video cameras) can be seen in its entirity over and over again.
All I can say is that I will never run for president. God knows that I embarass myself enough when I'm aware people are looking at me; who knows what I am capable of without that awareness.
It kind of reminds me of a "Big Brother is watching" scenario that so many people claim to be against. I suppose, though, that if you are putting yourself in the public eye (to become our president, no less) ,you should expect extreme scrutiny. I do feel bad for them because it seems they get crucified for being human. After all, no one is innocent of all things.
Like I said, I will never run for president. I am way too human to do it.
3 comments:
I agree, the media has more varieties on how to post their news these days. A candidate running for president is in the public eyes more than the last election.
I believe with the off-air reporters the candidates must be more careful at what they say and do. After all, they are in the publics eyes more than ever before. One mistake can cost them their votes form potential voters.
I do feel for anyone who is in the public eye constantly. Its hard but people should focus soley on who is best for president and not silly things like a $400 dollar haircut. I do think its progressive that reporters are more abundant. Canidates do have to be careful because now with youtube and blogs anything can be made open to the public. I agree with Jan I could never pit myself out there because everyone is human and we all make mistakes.
I quite enjoy the fact that we have these "embeds" to see the behind the scenes things we wouldn't normally be able to see. And thanks to the internet we can see them whenever we want, and how ever many times we want. I think it's great that we have these people around, during election time. It could let you see the true colors of a candidate when they think no one is watching.
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