The Made-For-Tv Election

This excellent documentary on the 1980 Presidential election begins with a montage of images from television, followed by questions about the meaning and impact of television in the political arena, and answers from Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather to the effect that the media's influence is vastly overrated. Then the play begins: In Act I, Ted Kennedy, a non-candidate, begins to receive substantial news coverage, peaking with Roger Mudd's reflective comments on Chappaquiddick's bearing on the Kennedy candidacy--a candidacy that was born and killed on television. News polls, a rather unscientific instrument at best, follow Kennedy's bouncing ball on the popularity chart--with the corresponding nosedive following Mudd's interview. Other candidates, on both sides of the fence, are examined...briefly. Bob Dole garners a total of 205 seconds of coverage from CBS. Phillip Crane, 290 seconds. John Connally, less than 500. The lion's share goes to Reagan, the actor, the man who makes for good television; Jerry Brown, whom the networks find an easy target for ridicule; and Carter, around whom the networks construct the "Hiding in the Rose Garden" story as punishment for his refusal to take to the campaign trail during the Iranian hostage crisis. And, speaking of the crisis, ABC begins its 11:30 p.m. mini-series America Held Hostage, which eventually outranks Carson in audience share--leading ABC to add the "show" as a permanent feature, under the new title Nightline. In Act II, the highlight is the Republican ticket, the so-called Reagan-Ford dream ticket--another media event constructed by television for tele­vision, during a less than exciting convention. In Act III, we see the real story behind the Carter-Reagan debates. A "pilfered" copy of Carter's briefing book gives Reagan an edge, albeit a highly unethical one. Television does not report this story. And, finally, in Act IV, the now legendary early news projections of a Reagan landslide is examined. (A blunder by the networks that kept a lot of voters at home--which, in turn, cost a lot of important votes on local issues.) Praised by the NEA, this program should be required viewing for all citizens. Highly recommended. (Available from: News Analysis Associates, 1904 R Street, Northeast Suite 4, Washington, DC 20009.)