Movie Analysis Essay on Journey With George

Introduction

Journey with George is a political documentary movie released in 2002 (Rose). Alexandria Pelosi directed the movie based on her experience with George W. Bush. The film is based on George W. Bush Presidential campaign from the start to the end and illustrates the relationship between the press and the presidential candidates. Alexandra Pelosi reflects on the time spent with George Bush during the year 2000 campaign period to direct the movie (Rose). Films she recorded during the period giving visual revelation of Bush life during the period. Significant sequences in the movie include; the efforts Bush tried to convince Pelosi to vote for him, Pelosi and the press, and symbolizes behind the scene conduct. Pelosi shows how lovable and wise Bush is; she demonstrates how George Bush helped her though she went behind his back and voted for Bill Bradley and the good advice on how to identify your friends. The movie introduces a new political perspective and new political communication strategies.

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The significance of Interpersonal communication based on political campaigns is illustrated; it allows political candidates to frame their message differently to appeal to voters of different backgrounds. In addition, techniques learned from effective interpersonal communication increase the relationship between voters and political candidates and gains the candidate voters support. Moreover, the movie encourages the use of different interpersonal techniques to political candidates shown by how Bush used different forms of interpersonal communication to gain supporters (Rose). For instance; for Bush to gain recognition and credibility as a candidate, He participates in numerous campaign-sponsored events including political rallies during the prelude of South Carolina primaries and New Hampshire. He also meets up with prospective voters during the campaign trial, which increases his popularity. Bush also uses an apologia as one of his communication strategies minimizing damage to his character and reputation (Rose).

Park Journalism

Pack journalism denotes a practice where reporting becomes homogeneous as a result of group reporting and depends on one another's for news tip or depends on one source for information. 'Packs' refers to the habit of simultaneously getting available information with the same intention. Park journalism grew fast in the 1970s with the frenetic growth of journalism in the modern world. These journalists observe other journalist writing and doing in order to obtain important sources. Park journalism has also mainly been influenced due to advancement in technology. Hence, Park journalism is also referred to as the cable news network. Park journalism is a name used by critics and observers to the news that lack or have little substance.

Park journalism is perceived to impact media reporters negatively and is considered an unethical media practice ("Park Journalism" 2017). The authenticity of some sources is doubted; hence, the level of authenticity of the reported news drops. Pack reporting affects society negatively because serious issues are left unreported. For instance; The Three Mile Island incident which was possibly a potential hazard of nuclear power and media-driven by commercial interests ("Park Journalism" 2017). Failure of the cooling system led to partial melting of the Uranium core arousing the danger of an explosion and radioactivity. The media easily influenced people living around the area, causing psychological damage. Many journalists and media houses exaggerated the possible hazards and threats posed by the incident causing significant psychological harm to residents in the area. Although the power plant posed dangers to the people, the media influenced made a considerable impact, which was condemned by the government.

Based on the movie 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' Rush Limbaugh uses the phrase 'driven-by-Media' symbolizing park journalism (Truong 2015). The movie illustrates how reporters write news that is biased and unauthentic. In addition, Diz Moore calls coins the term 'ambulance chasers' to refer to park journalists.

Horse Race Coverage

Horse race journalism refers to the symbolic use of metaphors to report on politics. This form of journalism is significant in election campaign coverage. Political reporting mainly focuses on policy and election aspects. Journalist focuses on who's ahead and who's behind. Horse race coverage determines the most adept candidate to gain power and undermines the other candidate. 'Horse race' is a metaphorical word used to refer to the conventions of sports coverage, bases on the survival of one candidate to campaign another day or the crossing of the finish line first. Reporters based their reasons for political success or failure based on polling and public opinion survey. According to Matthew and Nisbet (2010), Patterson refers to the Horse race coverage as a 'quiet revolution' and a game of strategy to gain electoral success. Horse race coverage public opinion offers a competitive advantage based on the news marketplace. The growth of Horse race coverage has been influenced majorly by growth and popularity of political polling.

For instance, according to Patterson (2016), the political competition of Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Bernie Sanders was significantly influenced by the horse race coverage. For instance; Donald Trump received more coverage than all the other candidates giving him a political advantage. The media obsession with Trump gained him more attention, which improved his political status. Horse race can be deduced as a significant play in the political realm influencing elections and public opinion.

Horse race coverage can determine a citizen's decision creating informed decisions or policy during elections (Matthew and Nisbet 2010). Horse race coverage may affect a candidate's poll positively by improving a candidate standing and negatively by destroying his standing poll. In addition, horse race coverage symbolizes the strength of the media in determining the outcome of an election.

NATO/Warsaw pact

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 by 11 countries due to communist expansion ("The Quest for a New World Order"). The Soviet Union helped the coup in Czechoslovakia bring a communist government to power and implemented a blockade against West Germany. NATO pact was a security measure, and an attack on any of the affected countries would be considered an attack on them all. NATO was formed as a ground for the USA to provide military aid to in Western Europe. The countries involved were; Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Luxembourg, United States and Portugal ("NATO"). The NATO alliance is in existence currently and continues to protect its member countries. It aims to are to reduce mass destruction, terrorism, and cyberattacks in the modern world. NATO aims to counter cyber warfare and counterterrorism as well as counter Russian aggression to countries like Poland and Baltic states. NATO's military activity has promoted stability in the region significantly.

Conversely, in 1955, the Soviet Union formed the Warsaw pact with its affiliated nations. The conflict between the communist and the capitalist (western Nations) led to the division of Europe. The USSR established its military bases in places attained from the Nazis prompting NATO alliance which aspired to prevent further expansion of the Soviet Union. The Warsaw pact was formed majorly because West Germany was allowed to build an army and re-armed by the NATO alliance. The alliance also included the protection of the Soviet military in other nations involved in the alliance. Warsaw was used to strengthening the bargaining power of the Soviet Union in international diplomacy. The Warsaw pact included Albania, Bulgaria, East Germany, Hungary, Romania, Poland, and Czechoslovakia ("The Quest for a New World Order"). Warsaw alliance aimed to defend and deter enemy attack amongst its member nations. For instance, revolts in Czechoslovakia in 1968 and Hungary in 1956, USSR used military force to calm the revolts and presented the incident as Warsaw pact. Warsaw started declining after the 1989 democratic revolution in eastern Europe and was declared nonexistent in July 1991 ("The Quest for a New World Order"). The alliance lasted for 40 years.

Work Cited

"Pack Journalism." Topics, Sample Papers & Articles Online for Free, 17 Jan 2017, https://studymoose.com/pack-journalism-essayEditors, History com. "NATO." HISTORY, https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/formation-of-nato-and-warsaw-pact. Accessed 12 July 2019.

"20th-Century International Relations - The Quest for a New World Order, 1991-95." Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/topic/20th-century-international-relations-2085155. Accessed 12 July 2019.

Patterson, Thomas E. News Coverage of the 2016 Presidential Primaries: Horse Race Reporting Has Consequences. 2016, https://shorensteincenter.org/news-coverage-2016-presidential-primaries/.

Nisbet, Matthew C. Horse Race Coverage & the Political Spectacle - Big Think. 2010, https://bigthink.com/age-of-engagement/horse-race-coverage-the-political-spectacle.

Rose, Matthew. "'Journeys With George' Political Documentary Summary." Our Politics, 19 July 2016, https://ourpolitics.net/journeys-with-george-political-documentary-summary/.