Choose a president (any president is fine but modern presidents will be easier) and explain how that president attempted to shape media coverage to communicate their character or “sell themselves” and their policy preferences to the public.

Farnsworth writes that one way for presidents to adapt to the ever-changing media environments is “through emphasizing presidential character: giving the American public the opportunity to gain a sense of who the president is as a person as a means of building public support for a president’s policy preferences.” (pg 9). Choose a president (any president is fine but modern presidents will be easier) and explain how that president attempted to shape media coverage to communicate their character or “sell themselves” and their policy preferences to the public.C

For example, Farnsworth mentions George W. Bush and the communication of his presidential character after 9/11. Bush gave speeches and spoke with authority, creating an image of successful leadership, at least at first. He was easily able to persuade a nation that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and our country had a vested interest in rooting out terrorism abroad. Two months after the war in Iraq began, Bush gave a speech on an aircraft carrier, declaring “Mission Accomplished.” This was a turning point in his administration as his claims were highly criticized and his leadership abilities questioned