Obama & Entertainment, Basic News Writing, 11/2

 

President Barack Obama has recently been gaining the attention of media by his numerous appearances on popular television talk shows.  Appearances on shows such as “The Late Show,” “The Tonight Show,” and “Oprah,” began during his campaign and have not ceased now that he is in the Oval Office, with recent appearances on MTV, VH1, “The Daily Show,” a scheduled election day interview with Ryan Seacrest and an upcoming appearance on Discovery’s “Mythbusters.”  Public opinion about Obama’s television presence ranges across the spectrum.  While these appearances are an attempt to make him seem more relatable and marketable, they may be leading to a blurred line between head of state and a public figure who happens to live in the White House.

Obama’s most recent talk show interview took place Oct. 17 with Jon Stewart on “The Daily Show.”  During Stewart’s show, which is most often riddled with jokes and satire, this interview remained somewhat serious.  This could be related to the fact that elections are around the corner, or due to the fact that Obama would hardly let Stewart say a word, edge wise. “It’s just been hard not to talk,” Stewart said at one point.  Though Obama’s answers were somewhat long and drawn-out, they were thorough and addressed the concerns on the mind of many Americans.

“He obviously knows the complaints of the people,” sophomore Rachel Wilson said.  “He addressed the problems that people have about what has happened so far, and I feel that by addressing those problems he makes it sound like he’s trying really hard to fix them.”   For that reason, Wilson enjoyed the Comedy Central interview and does not believe Obama loses any credibility as president by his appearances on these shows.  “If [those who disagree with the appearances] really think about it, they might recognize he’s trying to reach people who are usually statistically less likely to vote, less likely to be involved in politics, and they might respect that,” Wilson said.

One very important element that Obama has been working to his advantage since day one has been the audience he targets and how to win their attention.  “I just see it as him trying to reach out to a different audience,” junior Marie Lemma said.  Another positive aspect of the talk shows, out of the formal news setting, is the perception of the viewers.  They show “he is a person.  I think people tend to forget that.  It showed that he’s not only president, but father and husband as well,” Lemma said.  “It showed he’s trying to make the country a better place for us, and his family.  He can’t just snap his fingers and make the country a better place.  It’s going to take some time.”

“These appearances, if anything, make him more connected to the public,” junior and Vice-President of Belmont’s Young Democrats Robin Kirk said.  “He can respond to their reactions and improve on what needs to be improved.”  These interviews, outside of the average newsroom, are all part of an evolving world. “He is not hiding himself.  It is like Franklin Roosevelt’s fireside chats.  It is a way to connect with his constituents, which is something that is hard to do for a president considering he/she has millions,” Kirk said.

Shows, such as these, are also a good way for Obama to discuss “what his original plans were and how he has attempted to do all that he can within the frame that he’s been given,” sophomore Jessica Spradlin said.  However, “I feel like his image was kind of diminished in a way that he was so stiff, he didn’t want to let Jon speak.  It felt like, normally Jon talks more, it felt like he was just more rigid than how he normally comes off and could’ve come off, and then he would try to speak over Jon.”

Though an interview such as this is full of positive and negatives, the main purpose was clear.  “By coming on these shows he’s trying to encourage people to be more informed,” Wilson said. “Not to inform them by being on the show, but by encouraging people to be more involved in the government of their country because they’re the ones that are responsible for it.” Agree or disagree, the main purpose is what is important, “he was really driving home the point ‘you guys need to go vote,” Wilson said.