16 Everyday Americans??

[Scimitar]

Just saw some of the TV news footage on Obama's Inauguration Train Ride.
16 Everyday Americans where invited along.

Now, I consider myself very very very colour blind racially speaking, but from the footage I saw it sure seemed like most if not all of those everyday Americans were all African American.

Can anyone confirm, because if they where all African American like it sure looked like in the footage, then that's a pretty big message to be sending don't you think.

Surely it should have been a reasonable cross section of the US population

10 Caucasians
3 Hispanics
2 African Americans
1 Asian American

9 Protestants
5 Catholics
1 Jew
1 Muslim

I'm of no real opinion here, just thought it was interesting.

Thoughts?

[nmap]

Television is, in my opinion, very much about molding views and impressions - hence the success of advertising. In addition, the buildup to the inauguration is heavily laden with symbolism.

So...I think the answer will come if one asks the question "What views and beliefs are the media trying to convey?"

One might also ask how the media choose individuals and families to interview. Could it be that they wish to convey a message? Or, perhaps they want the viewers to connect with the subjects of the interview in a certain way.

If you get a chance, look at Propaganda by Edward Bernays - originally published in 1928...

[Scimitar]

Thanks Nmap,

I was a Marketing Major, and that book rings a bell from my university days.

Will look it up.

S