Bettendorf HW

Nationals 2010
AFFIRMATIVE FILE

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 Bettendorf HW
Nationals 2010
AFFIRMATIVE FILE

DEFINITIONS: “TRENDS”

(__) The Random House Dictionary1 defines “trends” as: “the general course or prevailing tendency; drift:” The
implication of this definition is that the debate should center around social events that have a large influence on
American political dialogue. [Proof of such should be corroborated by professional sources.]

(__) A single fringe group cannot be considered a trend without proof of a significant influence on our deliberative
process.

(__) A trend denotes a general movement or change. The status quo does not serve as a current trend since the word
“current” separates the present from the past, requiring a difference between the two.

"trend." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 08 Jun. 2010. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/trend>.

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Nationals 2010
AFFIRMATIVE FILE

DEFINITIONS: “POLITICAL DIALOGUE”

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Nationals 2010
AFFIRMATIVE FILE

“SOFT NEWS” BAD

(__) Harvard study is legit. The Harvard Kennedy School of Government2 writes:

The two-year study was done by the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at
Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. It included an analysis of changes in news
coverage during the 1980s and 1990s and surveys of Americans’ news habits and opinions.

(__) Soft news is a current trend. The Harvard Kennedy School of Government3 writes:

Soft news (that is, news that is typically more sensational, more personality-centered, more entertainment
oriented, and more incident-based than traditional public affairs news) has increased sharply in the past two
decades. News stories that have no public policy component have increased from less than 35% of all stories
in 1980 to roughly 50% today. In the early 1980s, about 25% of news stories had a moderate to high level of
sensationalism; today, nearly 40% of news stories have this feature.

(__)

Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government. Shorestein Center. New Study Indicates Soft News and Critical Journalism Are Eroding Audiences and Weakening Democracy. Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard University, 12 Jan.
2001. Web. 8 June 2010. <http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/new-study-indicates-soft-news-and-critical-journalism-are-eroding-audiences-and-weakening-democracy>.
3
Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government. Shorestein Center. New Study Indicates Soft News and Critical Journalism Are Eroding Audiences and Weakening Democracy. Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard University, 12 Jan.
2001. Web. 8 June 2010. <http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/new-study-indicates-soft-news-and-critical-journalism-are-eroding-audiences-and-weakening-democracy>.

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 Bettendorf HW
Nationals 2010
AFFIRMATIVE FILE

“CRITICAL NEWS” BAD

(__) Critical news is a current trend. The Harvard Kennedy School of Government4 writes:

Critical news (that is, news about the failings of leaders, institutions, and policies) has risen steadily in recent
decades. Negative coverage of presidential candidates is an example. In 1960, about 25% of the evaluative
coverage of candidates was negative in tone. In the past three presidential elections, more than 50% of the
coverage has been negative.

(__) Critical journalism is eroding interest in politics. The Harvard Kennedy School of Government5 writes:

The study also found that critical journalism is weakening the demand for news by depressing the public’s
interest in politics. Interest levels have dropped significantly in recent years. Critical journalism, the report
concludes, "is not the only factor, nor necessarily the major one" in the public’s declining interest in politics.
But "negative news is eroding Americans’ political trust and interest. . . . As politics becomes less attractive to
citizens, so, too, does the news. Individuals who have a strong interest in politics are three and one-half times
more likely (83% to 24%) to follow the news closely than those with a weak interest. As interest falls step-by-
step, so too does news consumption."

Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government. Shorestein Center. New Study Indicates Soft News and Critical Journalism Are Eroding Audiences and Weakening Democracy. Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard University, 12 Jan.
2001. Web. 8 June 2010. <http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/new-study-indicates-soft-news-and-critical-journalism-are-eroding-audiences-and-weakening-democracy>.
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Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government. Shorestein Center. New Study Indicates Soft News and Critical Journalism Are Eroding Audiences and Weakening Democracy. Harvard Kennedy School. Harvard University, 12 Jan.
2001. Web. 8 June 2010. <http://www.hks.harvard.edu/news-events/news/press-releases/new-study-indicates-soft-news-and-critical-journalism-are-eroding-audiences-and-weakening-democracy>.

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