Caitlyn O`Connell

Abstract:

Abstract: In today’s society, it is difficult to trust anything you see, read, or hear. Due to the subjectivity in the media, it is challenging to trust much of what is produced which threatens Democracy and our country. Researchers of political communications often discuss these divides created by the media and have found that negative political ads have been on the rise since the 20th century through copious mediums present in today’s society (Ordway 2016). Whether it be on television or social media, negativity can cause a rise in both political candidates and the society around us. What these works have tended to lack, however, are the aspects of negative political ads that have adverse effects on society. I will discuss these effects in this study and how they led to a political turning point in 2020. By starting with the “Daisy Ad” in 1964, I believe that my research on this topic will have a profound statement about the reality of political ads (Schwartz 2016). References: Wihbey, Denise-Marie Ordway and John. “Negative Political Ads and Their Effect on Voters: Updated Collection of Research.” The Journalist’s Resource, 3 June 2022, https://journalistsresource.org/politics-and-government/negative-political-ads-effects-voters-research-roundup/. “‘Daisy’ Ad (1964): Preserved from 35mm in the Tony Schwartz Collection.” YouTube, YouTube, 7 Sept. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riDypP1KfOU.