If you wanted to see a good example of someone who understood the impact a television network can have on people's minds and opinions, you would look no further than media mogul Rupert Murdoch. From the beginning of his life Murdoch recognized the valuable opportunity he possessed to influence public opinion on political issues. And if you are Rupert Murdoch and control a very effective and powerful communication channel such as the most read British tabloid or the most followed American news network, how can you effectively persuade the thoughts of others? And what obstacles can a propagandist encounter in this process? The answer to these questions may be simpler than many imagine. The first calculated step in any attempt at an organized media persuasion campaign is to designate a time slot. This time must be optimal and must reach the target audience at the right time. Once you're sure an intellectual, or at least extremely receptive, audience will tune in, introduce a compelling topic that allows for two-way discussion. The topic (let's use healthcare reform for this example) is presented unfavorably in the first place, allowing the arguments against it to seem stronger and more legitimate. The news organization opposed to an administration's agenda explains to its viewers through surrogate columnists, or experts in today's terminology, how health care reform is a huge extension of government responsibilities, how it will lead to death panels that will harm your family and how extremely it will cost in human lives and fortune. Overly patriotic words like “liberty” and “freedom” are splashed across the television screen in the middle of a sheet of paper, it's too obvious to ignore. With the preponderance of information available on the Internet, accurate news reporting is literally seconds away from decoding the plot and explaining the actual facts without as much bias as you'll see on cable news. While we still rely on cable news for visual imagery and constant news analysis, we have built in our heads which channel is leaning left, right, or which is attempting to straddle the gray area of ​​the politically moderate. Unfortunately for the avid and isolated viewer, these media outlets are the bedrock of truth they need to continue with their affiliations, political beliefs, and moral convictions without worrying about having to change their minds about anything. Works Cited Jowett, Garth and Victoria O'Donnell. Propaganda and persuasion. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2006. Print.