When reviewing the Legacy Print’s coverage of Obama’s inauguration, I found the headlines alone were tell-tale as to the media’s perception of the event.
- “A Harsh Reception”
o This headline refers to the negative reaction of some of the bystanders to the presence of Bush at the inauguration. The headline shows intent of the Post to highlight the dislike for Bush as the overall attitude of the crowd.
- “The Perfect Day”
o This statement sums it up. The Post publicly proclaims their view of the new president by classifying his inauguration worthy of deeming a day “perfect.” The intense cold that sent spectators to emergency care tents was not taken into account.
- “People With Purple, Silver Tickets Turned Away”
o So great was the desire to see this historic event that the throng of citizens clamoring to get it could not all be accommodated and thousands were turned away.
In the New York Times online website, a frequently updated blog gives a play- by-play with “Live Blog: The Inauguration of Barack Obama” by Katharine Q. Seelye.
- In Honoring Dr. King, Rote Finds Relevance in Obama
o This headline makes a great leap of reverence by comparing Obama to Dr. King.
- Cheney in a Wheelchair
o This gives readers an image of Cheney, however inadvertently posed, as incapacitated.
- Play Louder
o This blurb postulates that the increased volume of the band when Bush appeared was intended to drown out the scattered boo’s voiced from the crowd.
- Hail to the Chief
o The name of the song played for Obama.
- First Optimistic Note
o This is referencing Obama’s inaugural address and also giving his speech an obvious “optimistic” and happy connotation.
- ‘Ground Has Shifted’
o Again, a reference to his speech, but when made a headline it labels the event of his presidency as a figurative “shifting” in our status quo.
