Sum up the information on Natalie Savage and what she does while waiting for the media briefing to start.

Analyze how Savage’s experiences on her first day in her new job are conveyed. Focus on narrative techniques and use of language.

Choose one of the following tasks.

3.1

“[…] the posts glorified the most banal aspects of politics, sucking any whiff of substance from a story […].” (ll. 41-42)

Taking the quotation as a starting point, assess the effects quality journalism and sensationalist journalism have on political discourse.

or

3.2

The cartoon below has shown up in your social media feed and has caught your attention.

Write an email to the award-winning cartoonist David Horsey, in which you comment on the message of his cartoon.

Natalie Savage is a newly appointed White House correspondent representing a US TV station. She is excited about her new job and feels the thrill of being part of a major news event. Even though she looks like a typical news reporter with a lot of make-up, she doesn’t like the effort it takes, especially the fake eyelashes she has to wear.

While waiting for the media briefing to start, she sits in her assigned place in the White House press room. She observes her surroundings and notices how run-down and stuffy the room is, despite being used by numerous media representatives. To distract herself during the delay, she looks at her cellphone. She reads messages from her mother and looks at photos sent by her sister. Natalie also engages in a conversation with another journalist sitting next to her. He works for a notorious online news outlet that she is critical of. They talk about the relevance of White House briefings, and he tells her that the events are more like theater than real news.

Savage’s experiences on her first day in her new job as a White House correspondent are conveyed through the use of narrative techniques and expressive language.

From the beginning, Savage’s excitement is shown through a third-person limited point of view that gives insight into her thoughts and feelings. The choice of words highlights the strong effect the moment has on her body, such as the “intensity” (line 1), a “pupil-dilating flush of oxygen” and the “heart-pounding thrill” (line 2). These expressions show how much it means to her to be at the White House and underline the significance of this moment as an important step in her career. However, this excitement is contrasted with her disgust at the state of the press room. The narrator uses reported thought, like “Why does success always smell like a men’s locker room?” (line 9), and negatively connoted words, such as “smelled of mold and sweat” (line 8), “crap hole” (line 10), and “shabbiness of the tiny press room” (line 11). A simile compares the room to an “aging duchess” (line 12), which makes the situation seem ironic and exaggerated. There is also an enumeration of details, such as “a warren of cubicles...row of cameras…correspondents” (lines 5–6), showing how crowded and chaotic the room is. This contrast emphasizes Savage’s mixed feelings, the awe at being in a powerful place but disappointment with the working conditions. Savage also shows disapproval of certain elements of her new job, especially the way she is expected to look. The narrator uses negatively connoted language like “torturing her hair” (line 22) and exaggeration such as “wearing one percent of her body weight in foundation and eye shadow” (lines 22–23), which adds a humorous but critical tone. A quoted remark in italics like “Everyone at the White House has lashes. They are a must. Otherwise viewers won't see you!” (lines 24–25) highlights how ridiculous these beauty standards seem to her. This expresses Savage’s critical distance toward the fake and uniform appearance expected of TV reporters. Furthermore, Savage shows strong disapproval of her colleague Matt Walsh and the type of journalism he represents. The language is very expressive, with strong and vulgar words, such as “shocked” (line 43), and drastic metaphors like “cannibalistic enthusiasm” (line 36) or “snark with an undertone of kissed-it-fucked-it-over disdain” (lines 40–41). Imagery such as “with the efficiency of a college student taking a bong hit” (line 42) makes the tone even more sarcastic and judgmental. Savage also uses a comparison to show how uncomfortable she feels, saying talking to him is like “dining with someone…around weapons” (lines 50–51). These elements underline her aversion to sensationalist journalism. In terms of social interaction, Savage cautiously engages in a conversation with Walsh. The contrast “wary but fascinated” (line 50) and her aim to sound “warm but not too friendly” (line 52) shows that she is on her guard and careful with her reactions. Despite feeling nervous, she stands her ground, using short and confident replies like “No.” and “Yes.” (lines 55, 57), and ironic comments such as “Are you a doctor? I feel so much better now.” (line 63). Her attitude is also shown through imagery, like “performed a mental eye roll” (line 68), and her critical inner thoughts about Walsh’s speech: “As if not caring [...] was proof of his [...]superior reporting.” (lines 69–70). These examples highlight that Savage is not intimidated and keeps her distance. In conclusion, the author uses detailed descriptions, expressive language, and a limited third-person narration to give the reader a clear impression of Natalie Savage’s excitement, discomfort, and inner conflict. Her reactions, thoughts, and interactions are portrayed in a vivid and often humorous way, reflecting both the pressures and the absurdities of her new job.

3.1

The quote “the posts glorified the most banal aspects of politics, sucking any whiff of substance from a story” (lines 41–42) criticizes sensationalist journalism for focusing on trivial details instead of reporting meaningful political content. This type of journalism can distort political coverage by highlighting scandals or appearances while ignoring the actual political decisions and debates.

In contrast, quality journalism plays an important role in political discourse. It fosters a deeper understanding of political issues by offering detailed and reliable background information. By following professional standards, quality journalism presents a trustworthy picture of political developments and helps readers see the bigger picture. It also raises awareness of complex problems, as journalists take time to investigate and analyze them thoroughly. In addition, quality journalism supports constructive political debate by offering different perspectives and a balanced view. This helps citizens to form well-founded opinions and take part in discussions in a more thoughtful and informed way. However, its impact can be limited because it mostly reaches educated audiences who are already interested in serious politics.

On the other hand, sensationalist journalism can have harmful effects on political discourse. It often provokes emotional reactions rather than encouraging rational thinking. For example, it might create scandals or discredit political candidates by focusing on personal details instead of policy. Sensationalist media distracts the public from relevant political issues by offering superficial or exaggerated stories, which leads to less informed decision-making. In extreme cases, it can manipulate political opinions and push people toward polarized or populist views by offering one-sided and dramatic coverage. This can be dangerous because it may undermine democratic values like open debate and tolerance.

However, a possible advantage of sensationalist journalism is that it reaches a broader public. Because the content is easy to understand, it can make people aware of political issues and controversies that they might not hear about otherwise.

In conclusion, while quality journalism supports democracy by offering facts, balance, and complexity, its influence is often limited to smaller, educated groups. Sensationalist journalism, in contrast, reaches more people but often at the cost of truth and depth, which can weaken political discourse and democratic values in the long term.

3.2

Dear Mr. Horsey,

I recently came across your cartoon titled The Mesmerizer on social media and felt compelled to write to you. The powerful image of a hypnotist figure labeled “Social Media” controlling a young girl with a spinning disc immediately caught my attention. It is a striking and thought-provoking depiction of the influence social media has on today’s youth.

Your cartoon clearly communicates the idea that social media can act as a dangerous and manipulative force, especially for young Americans. The hypnotist figure and the girl’s blank, mesmerized stare effectively symbolize how these platforms can stop independent and critical thinking, making users passive recipients of manipulated content. I found this portrayal both bold and disturbing—exactly what a political cartoon should be.

There are certainly valid arguments supporting this message. Many young users are especially vulnerable to highly manipulative strategies used by social media companies, which have immense power over what people see. The use of data mining and personalized algorithms means that content, advertisements, and even news can be tailored to influence users without them realizing it. Additionally, it is very difficult to regulate these platforms effectively, as there are few strong national or international mechanisms in place. Studies also show that social media is the main source of information for younger generations, which increases the risk of addiction and a loss of perspective when users are constantly exposed to filtered realities.

However, I believe it’s also important to look at the topic from another angle. The cartoon presents social media as entirely evil, which might oversimplify the issue. There are many types of platforms and ways of using them. While some content is manipulative, there is also a wide range of educational, creative, and empowering material online. In fact, many young people today are media-literate and able to question what they see. Also, social media has given a voice to individuals who previously had no public platform, allowing for diverse opinions and expressions of individuality. In my view, The Mesmerizer successfully draws attention to the dangers of social media’s influence. But at the same time, I think it would be helpful to acknowledge that not all users are victims and that responsibility also lies with how we choose to use these platforms, not just with the companies behind them.

Thank you for your work! It encourages important conversations, and this cartoon is a great example of that.

Kind regards,

Alfie Martin