How reality TV stars seeking office are changing politics

SUMMARY

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, his wife and their children filmed a reality show that is set to be released in the lead-up to the nation’s 250th anniversary. It is a return to form for the Duffys, who first met filming for MTV in the 1990s. Now, a new batch of reality TV stars are hoping to transition into elected office. Ali Rogin reports on how their campaigns could change politics.

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about? What would you want to learn more about?

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the News Hour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. Why did Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy film a reality TV show?
2. Who are some of the reality TV stars running for office that are profiled in this segment?
3. When has previous celebrity helped politicians in the past?
4. How did being a reality TV star help Donald Trump become president?
5. What are people voting for when they vote for reality stars, according to Roxane Gay?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

• Why do you think so many former reality TV stars are entering politics? Do you think that background is an advantage in elections or not? Why do you think so?
• What do you think would be the impact on national or local politics if more politicians had backgrounds as reality TV stars or influencers?

Media literacy: In this segment, Roxane Gay says that, “There’s not a lot of reality to be found yet in reality television. And, quite frankly, there’s not a lot of reality to be found in politics….” What do you think she means by this? What comparison is she making between reality TV and politics?

NEWS: THEN & NOW

The News: Then & Now section of the Daily News Lessons allows students to see connections between current and past news events. The activity provides historical context using primary sources from the Library of Congress.

See PBS News Hour Classroom’s Journalism in Action website for interactive examples of how journalists covered key events in U.S. history while honing your primary source, civics and digital news literacy skills.

THEN

As noted by the infographic at the end of this segment, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the first president to appear on television in 1939. Since then, television has been a critical medium for presidents, politicians and candidates to communicate with the public.

Appealing to potential voters and winning the confidence of the public through the media of television called upon different skills and talents than the speeches and rhetoric candidates had used before television.

One famous example is the 1960 televised debates between candidates Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy.

Though Nixon came into the debate leading in the polls, he did not prepare well for appearing on television screens on countless homes throughout the U.S. He famously refused to wear makeup, and he appeared to be sweating and uncomfortable compared to the more composed Kennedy. Many historians see the debate as a turning point in the election, leading to Kennedy’s win.

It soon became apparent that comfort with television and other new media was critical for success for aspiring politicians. (You can watch the full debate at the John F. Kennedy Library website here.)

NOW

Donald Trump was able to win the presidency partly thanks to his comfort with television cameras due to his experience with the reality TV series, the Apprentice. Trump was similarly comfortable with social media, and was able to reach audiences daily through his constant presence on Twitter, Facebook and other social media outlets.

Today, reality TV stars and other celebrities with a knack for modern media see that experience along with name recognition as a significant advantage as they seek office.

Discussion questions:

• What media do you think is most important for communicating with the public and potential voters today? What skills do you think are most critical for attracting audiences in the forms of media you identified?
• How do you think outlets such as TikTok, podcasts, YouTube and more are impacting who runs for office, and why?

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