Exposing Joe McCarthy

 Senator Joe McCarthy is one of the strongest pro-American figures in the history of the United States. He indeed was the creator if McCarthyism, a witch-hunt and anti-communist hysteria. "McCarthyism was a reckless political gamble to convince voters that the Democratic Party had presided over the country through two decades of not unfortunate accidents or errors--but treason" Streitmatter 157. 

The media was known for McCarthy's uprising. His ability to manipulate the press was astounding. "In his book Joe McCarthy and the Press, Edwin R. Bayley concluded that McCarthy, "was able to generate massive publicity because he understood the press, its practices,  and its values; he knew what made news" Streitmatter 162. He manipulated newspapers into printing dozens of lies. His sneaky ways and intelligence, lead him to know the exact time of when to make a claim. This way no one would be able to track it down and catch him.  

However, one man was determined to stop his madness, and exploit him to the world. Edward R. Murrow, creator of See It Now on CBS. See it now focused on a number of controversial issues in the 1950's , but mainly criticized McCarthy and the Red Scare. Contributing to the downfall of Senator Joe McCarthy. Murrow used excerpts from McCarthy's speeches to prove where he contradicted himself. "He accused McCarthy of terrorizing innocent people and lying to the American public" Streitmatter 166. This backlash against Joe McCarthy was a major turning point in the history of television. 

Separate but Equal

The discrimination against African Americans proceeded the era known as the Civil Rights Movement. This movement was important to the history of the United States. It established that discrimination was unjust and would no longer be tolerated in the country, while setting an example for oppressed people everywhere. "

"Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka, prompted blacks to challenge unjust laws and discriminatory practices" Streitmatter 174. However, their challenges failed, and that is where TV  played its role. Television helped publicize the civil rights movement. It allowed people all over the nation to see the violence, unfairness, hatred, and oppression of the black people. "Television was a critical prod to America's conscience and the spur to congressional action" Streitmatter 175. Although newspapers played a part in giving the public information, it was not as successful as TV. A description is not as powerful versus witnessing an event happening.  

"Little Rock was the first case where people really got their impression of an event from televison" states CBS news correspondent Robert Schakne. In 1957 the governor of Arkansas attempted to prevent nine black students from entering Central High School in Little Rock, which was strictly a white public school. Elizabeth Eckford being one of them. Unaware that the black students were to be escorted to school in police cars, Elizabeth arrived alone. She was greeted by angry White students who abused her and yelled racial comments at her. All captured on camera for all America to witness. President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered U.S. Army troops to accompany the students to school for protection. 

The Nation Turned to Woman-Power...

During the 1900's a woman's job was mainly to stay at home, cook, clean and take care of her family. However, all of that changed during World War II. Women were encouraged to work, when there was a severe labor shortage. "Faced with a critical need for manpower, the nation turned to womanpower" Streitmatter 144. The government initiated the propaganda campaign that lured women into working. Their most popular was "Rosie the Riveter".

In chapter 9, Streitmatter discusses how Rosie the Riveter was your ideal woman worker. WWII gave women hope in showing that they could make something of themselves, other than being the average housewife. "There is no example in which a class or group of people who have once succeeded in expanding the area of their lives is ever persuaded again to restrict it" states Dorothy Thompson pg 144.

Encouraging more women to work, the media definitely played their part from the circulation of newspapers to magazines. Such as, the New York Times, Newsweek and the Christian Science Monitor. Most importantly, the radio. KJR aired twice a week explaining the importance and details of the women's workforce. "Newspapers also glamorized working women in their news stories" Streitmatter 147. The women were admired for their superior work, and performing some jobs better than the men could. 

I truly believe that these women have shaped the way women today are praised for their work ethic. Just for the fact that we are females, does not mean that we can't work just as hard as men, or even better. 

Mightier Than The Sword

    In reading the introduction of Mightier Than The Sword, Rodger Streitmatter discusses the concept of the news media shaping history. He explains that he used to teach a course that combined journalism and history. Students were so eager to get into his course becasue they were so interested in how the news media shaped history. In this book, there are 15 epsidoes in American History that have played a role in shaping landmark events. Streitmatter says that he has two audiences. College students, men and women who want to learn more about American news media and American history.

Google Images

      He states that college students criticize the news and media for being too poweful. I'm sure that many people can agree with this. A great amount of the popular news that we are given today is very low on information. For example, Charlie Sheen. I'm sure we are all sick of hearing his name constantly. I honerstly don't think that his 'news" should be on the front page of every newspaper. Someones crazy erotic behavior clearly doesn't interest many people. It's all gossip, not informational and educational news.

    In this book, Streightmatter discusses the different events in American History. The first chaper called "Sowing the Seeds of Evolution", the American Revoltion is mentioned. Sam Adams who was the prominent voice of the Boston Gazette wrote hundreds of articles. Adams also had a service in which he named "Journal Of Occurances", it became so huge that his news spread quickly through out the colonies.