I think that understanding the concept of framing helps me better understand just how much impact the media holds over my freedom of choice. Framing, basically put, tells us, the viewer, how to perceive an idea or topic. By using the technique of framing, the media—whether it be TV, film, newspapers, magazines, etc.—can shape our opinions about an issue, event, or person however they see fit. This helps the media maintain hegemony because most people in today's society will take the media's view on an issue or person as the only possible view. This being because in a nation as large as the United States, there is close to no other way to hear about events, issues, and people other than the media. Therefore, by framing something, the media literally shapes the future of our country.
An example is the 2008 presidential election. The media is the main source where people get information about the candidates. Most people take whatever they see on TV, in the newspaper, and online, and form their opinions on the candidates based solely on that. The only problem with this is that the media is biased and therefore will obviously show the candidate they favor in a positive way, while bashing the other. In the 2008 election, SNL and other media devices bashed McCain by bringing down his VP, Sarah Palin. To make it worse, the media emphasized McCain’s age, saying that McCain could die very soon, leaving Palin in charge. Whereas McCain was bashed, Obama was praised by the media. His idea of change was promoted all over the media, thus influencing the younger generation of voters to vote his way. Below is a clip of Tina Fey impersonating Sara Palin, just one of the ways the media brought down McCain in the 2008 election.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/palin-hillary-open/656281/
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