Marker: State of Play

This movie attempts to address how the media can influence public opinion about certain politicians and political issues. The amount of coverage given to certain issues affects the public's exposure to, and knowledge of such issues. Often times, the public reception of a politician is dependent on how he or she is portrayed in the media. Because the media has such a powerful influence on many Americans, its relationship with political figures is crucial. This relationship between the media and the public image of politicians is exemplified in State of Play. The first scene that exemplifies this is when Stephen Collins is telling Cal, in his apartment, that out of all the things he's done in the government, this affair is what he will be remembered for. He says, "I'm going to get more coverage on this than anything else I do, for the rest of my life." Media outlets know that people are interested in stories about sex scandals or other scandals. Because of this, they cover such occurrences heavily and along every step. Thus, the media determines what political events get the most attention. Collins is a perfect example of this. Despite his abilities as a politician, Collins will be remembered for his involvement in a scandal. This is the fault of the media and their extensive coverage of the issue. The media often makes decisions about what stories to cover based on what will sell and not necessarily on what's important. These decisions directly affect public opinion and knowledge of political issues.