by Katrina Murphy

Created on: November 07, 2008

To be a democracy, by the people and for the people, requires an abundance of informed voters.
The campaign seasons of hopeful government officials are notorious for an excess of advertisements through radio, television and every media outlet. We, the citizens, receive a bombardment of policy and background information, both for and against every candidate upon the ticket. We tune in to speeches and debates, in hopes of gleaning new information, yet we merely meet a different version of the same information. Truthful understanding of a candidate's position, policy and character requires direct questioning of their campaign platform by journalists and the public, thus making press conferences imperative to a democracy of informed voters.

Speeches and media advertisements are necessary to send a message and garner popularity, but unfortunately, they are scripted affairs that leave no possibility for unbridled expression, direct questioning or immediate opposition to information. A debate between candidates provides a larger window into personal and political objectives, yet moderators are sure to pose predictable questions to well-prepared candidates. Press conferences allow more room for genuineness than other mediums due to their capability of being slightly unpredictable and unscripted.

Government officials face daunting tasks and unpredictable situations; therefore, we must know their ability and character in handling less than desirable situations. We want strong leadership, yet we need to see a person in an uncomfortable circumstance for accurate assessment of their strength. All avenues of political campaigning pale in comparison to the power of a press conference in unnerving a person into their true form, if only momentary.

The press conference is the only instrument we have for direct questioning of objectionable practices.
As campaigns are apt to spread rumors, both true and false, the public desires a pro-active approach to confronting the issues that alarm us. We yearn to challenge candidates on the information their campaigns circulate about other candidates when our own research proves them false, as we want truth. We yearn for open discussion about practices, both negative and positive, within previous terms and employment, as we demand transparency.

Democracy, to most, is the ideal form of government for a citizenry and being as such, democracy is a fragile undertaking. History displays quickness to tyranny and oppression by governments as human nature

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