As long as we can remember, politics have been on our television screens. Whether it’s as part of the daily news, campaign advertisements, or even a 24-hour live stream, politics, and television have worked synonymously for many years. So what is the history between politics and TV, though?
Politics and TV History
Watching movies and TV shows on the best OLED TVs available is fun, but it’s also important to stay up-to-date with current affairs, and that includes politics. In addition, it’s important to have information on the things currently present in your country and even around the world, and television plays a major role in that.
Other than social media, it’s unlikely that you’d find any information about politics and who your politicians are without the use of television. Of course, the daily news shows that deliver updates about politics are helpful, but there are even 24-hour streaming shows that provide insight. For example, the BBC Parliament channel has been on television screens since 1992 and is important viewing.
Politicians also use television to promote their ideals in a bid to earn voters to gain positions of power. During elections, you will often see short programs around five to 15 minutes that are called party political broadcasts. The first one on UK screens came in 1951 when Viscount Samuel spoke for the Liberal Party. There is value in speaking directly to the public via their TV screens as their messages can often go unheard online and on the radio. Considering there was no such thing as social media or the internet in the 1950s, TV was a great avenue.
Live Televised Politics
In 1956 the very first American Presidential debate was televised. It was during the Dwight Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson campaigns, but it was not the main contenders that were on the live showing.
Instead, the first televised political debate was between two women: former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Chase Smith. Today, we see live news conferences from across the Atlantic Ocean, and we even see live debates between the UK’s two main political parties.
As important as television is to our daily lives in regard to drama shows, sports, and movies, it is equally important to keep up-to-date with politics.
