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      On Tuesday, November 6th, millions of Americans utilized their civic duty and voted in the 2018 midterm elections. While voter turnout has increased since the last midterm election, overall participation of eligible individuals who exercise their right as to vote is still at less than 50% of the total voting population according to USA Today. Some of the underlying issues of voter turnout involve feeling less informed about the world of politics. As Com Studies students it is our job to keep up with current events and help spread awareness of all issues even political ones. It is sad to see that several of our peers have chosen not to exercise their right to vote because they did not know enough to made an educated vote in the midterm elections. In an effort to combat these feelings of uncertainty, here are five tips to help you (an important potential voter) feel more educated and involved when making your next decision at the ballot box.

(Photo by Element5 Digital on Pexels)

1. Download An App

        As simple as it sounds, there are several applications for Apple and Android that have the sole goal of cutting stories down to a few digestible bullet points. These apps reduce the amount of time you as the reader have to spend searching for information and can be read within the short breaks throughout your daily activities. Some app suggestions are theSkimm, BriefMe, and iCitizen. TheSkimm synthesizes all the important stories for the day into one page. BriefMe gives you the top 10 stories from each day according to the amount of social media engagement with that story. iCitizen organizes stories in order of personal importance to you; for example, if you care about Gen X in the water, iCitizen will notify you of information and updates on that issue.

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2. Politifact.com is your friend

        Since their start in 2007, this website is run by a not-for-profit organization that has dedicated their cause to accessing the statements of political figures and the truth behind their statements. In their about page you can read about their non-partisan process and funding as well as how they score statements. You can browse various political issues like food safety or gas prices and then see how political officials approach these issues. Then you can see if they publish truthful statements about these issues or if they are lying to their audience. They also have different branches for each US state so you can read issues that are local to your area. This website will also take you to the exact articles where these statements where taken and can be a great reference when creating content about a political topic. It can give you a general overview of issues and serve as a good starting point before creating any strategic marketing or crisis management plans. Though it is a stressful job, someone has to manage public officials’ crisis and it might as well be an educated Com Studies student.

(Photo from PolitiFact.com)

3. Turn on CNN

         According to Pew Research Center, CNN caters to a politically moderate audience and thus is more unbiased than say Fox News or MSNBC when it comes to reporting on politics. While it does have a slightly left lean, CNN covers all issues in American and international politics. They also have short videos on their website that condense all the stories of the day into ten minutes so one can watch it as they get ready for their day. If you find yourself in a bind to get information about the world around you, CNN provides a way to get informed fast and lets you go about your daily routine. But remember, try to check multiple sources of news media before you make a decision on a situation. That way you can limit the bias you have on a topic and see both sides of an discussion. It is important when studying communication that we access all information available, even if it does not match our personal beliefs on the issue.

(Photo from makeameme.org)

4. Check out USA.gov

                  Curious about our civic history? Well USA.gov has an extensive collection of data sets and resources to help you grow your bank of knowledge especially when it comes to voting. They are not only a resource for historical reference, but also explain the different processes of elections we have in the United States. You can learn the details of what makes a Presidential election different than the midterms as well as key voting laws within your state. In addition to personalized laws, they can also help you find your voting center and help you register to vote online. It’s never too early to register to vote!

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5. Volunteer in the Community

The best way to learn about the needs in your community is to volunteer with a local nonprofit. Through this form of engagement you will make connections with members of your community and learn what hinders development in your surroundings. You get to see the first hand impact of a new law on voter ID requirements or affordable healthcare when you put yourself in an environment where you will be exposed to these issues. We as Americans are often apathetic because we have not felt the pain of those in need around us and the only way to lift their burdens is to extend a hand by volunteering. When you give your time to a cause, you are not limited to fixed the immediate problem in front of you but you are also creating the change for a brighter future.

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All in all, every single one of us has a voice that is important and deserves to be heard. If you did not vote in this past election just remember that your vote does matter and that you can help those who have yet to be granted the ability to vote in this country. Think of those are not old enough to vote or have had their voter registration put on hold because of corrupt laws. When you vote you are deciding what is acceptable for your family, your friends, and yourself to held accountable to in the long run. So stop reading this blog, get out there in your community, and do something to make yourself heard.

-Ginny

 

Check out these links about the midterm elections and register to vote:

https://www.usa.gov/how-to-vote

http://www.theweek.co.uk/donald-trump/95501/midterm-elections-2018-why-they-are-important

https://www.usatoday.com/data/elections/2018/results/senate/

Movember is also known as no shave November.

You may be wondering how this all began. Why not shave for a month?

No shave November/Movember began in Australia in 2003 to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancer. This makes sense since it is mainly known for men growing out their beards and mustaches.

No shave November’s (a separate organization) main purpose is to donate the money you would use to buy grooming products for the month of November to the American Cancer Society. This organization was founded on Facebook in 2009.

More recently this has become something fun to do, and in some cases, guys to have an excuse to live their facial hair dream. If you cannot grow a luscious bear or stash, you are still welcome to join this movement because no one has a perfect beard or mustache. According to Paul Cousgrove, the chief executive of the American Mustache Institute says “there’s no such thing as a perfect mustache. Every mustache is perfect in its own unique way; they’re the snowflakes of the face.”

This month isn’t only for the men to participate in. Of course wives, girlfriends, or friends can mention this to the men in their lives, but if you’re feeling it ladies, you can join the Movember movement as well! 

ABC News states that “Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancers in the United States with an estimated 233,000 new cases in 2014, according to the National Cancer Institute. That means it accounts for 14 percent of all new cancer cases.” Over 8 thousand people have been diagnosed with this cancer in a given year and over 300 people will die from it. Next, to heart disease, this is the next leading source of death in the United States.

You can post a selfie and put #Movember or #NoShaveNovember to spread the awareness of this life-threatening cancer and show off that luscious facial hair.

Over the years, the mention of #Movember and other mentions like it have grown.

 

 

 

Will you #participate? 

 

 

 

By: Jessica Rohe

 

If you haven’t heard that question in the past week, you probably live under a rock. With any remote connection to social media, chances are you have been “cyber bullied” (for lack of a better term) into voting. Everyone, I mean everyone, from Beyoncé to Willie Nelson to Google were vocal in encouraging their followers to 1. register to vote and 2. actually go vote in this year’s midterm election. Saying it is our civic responsibility and that “every vote counts;” photos, videos, stories, and articles flooded news feeds for weeks leading up to the big day.

Celebrities and brands have influence. If Sarah Hyland is waiting in long lines, filling out ballots and posting “I voted” pictures, you best believe I am too. Jokes aside, that is not the only reason to vote, BUT celebrities do have a huge platform where they have the freedom to voice their opinions and they took advantage of it on Tuesday.

Did this trendy encouragement work? According to TIME Magazine, 2018 was a historic year for midterm voter turnout, with many states recording levels of voter participation not seen for a non-presidential election in decades. Approximately 114 million votes were cast in U.S. House races in 2018, compared to 83 million in 2014, according to estimates by the New York Times. For a midterm election, this was a big deal and Americans should be proud that they have the opportunity to express their views. These celebrities and brands that spoke out about the importance of voting had an impact on raising awareness and creating a new energy surrounding the voting process, but really it is up to each and every citizen individually to want to have their voice heard. If you voted, congratulations, you are changing history!

So, two days later, what is the consensus? DC is divided. Democrats seized the House majority, while Republicans kept the Senate. There was no sweeping win for either party, but the energy surrounding this election gives us a glimpse into what the next presidential election will look like.

-Blaine Blackburn

References:

http://time.com/5447210/2018-voter-turnout/

Throughout our education, we have all learned about the power of persuasion. The idea of trying to sell someone on something can be difficult and requires a lot of thought to get their attention. One major platform to use persuasion is political campaigns. Campaigns are a time for politicians to reach out to people’s needs and concerns and let them know how they plan to take action and work to make improvements. The media often shows bias and seems to twist information so that a certain politician’s views appear misconstrued, making it frustrating to know the truth. The media plays a critical role in how the public understands a politician’s beliefs and how they view the politician as a potential officer (Samuel L. Popkin). But when used properly, persuasion can help a politician successfully prove to a voter that siding with them is the right decision.

Each time an election occurs, people are eager to learn about the candidates and learn whose views they align with the best. Though there are many ways to stay informed about what is going on with the government and politics during the months and years leading up to an election, we only have a limited understanding of how governmental actions are affecting our daily lives when following the media (Popkin). Politicians have the opportunity to give prospective voters the information desired about these matters that are causing uncertainty and earn their trust when campaigns begin (Popkin). Using persuasion, politicians use their campaigns to speak about what people want to hear. They incorporate ethos, pathos, and logos to establish themselves as the credible candidate who will lead the country in the right direction.

New studies are finding that the consequences of a person’s actions shape their political attitude (Pazzanese, 2015). Researchers are using cognitive dissonance theory to better understand that when a politician wins someone over with persuasion, it is usually because a person adapts their attitude if they were previously proven wrong by a candidate they once felt was the right fit (2015). People’s beliefs may change over time if they feel disappointed with their last decision. It is up to the candidates to effectively get voters to side with their views and validate their choice that voting for them is the right action. Research also suggests that if candidates can encourage someone to vote for them, they feel it increases the person’s affiliation toward that political party and turns them into a habitual voter over time (2015). After gaining a voter’s interest, is the responsibility of that party to continue to uphold the values that made the voter choose them the first time.

Politicians have been using persuasion since day one. When used efficiently, it is a huge factor in winning the public’s vote. Stay alert during the next big election and see if persuasion affects your decision!

-Kelcy Duffy

References:

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2015/06/the-art-of-political-persuasion/

https://s3.amazonaws.com/academia.edu.documents/