A Picture Says a Thousand Words

Well this week was intense. Coming of the back of the Condit readings and the Operation Rescue presentation,  the impact of imagery in furthering a message cannot be denied. Pictures give life and realism to what words try to express. This is an area I feel the LWV is greatly lacking in. After attempting to find uses of imagery in their publications I could find only one. In April of 2011 the Massachusetts LWV ran a smear campaign against their Senator who voted against a clean air initiative bill. The ad uses the images of a very young girl sitting in her mother's lap connected to multiple breathing machines. The ad intentionally used a small child. It also had very slow nursery music playing in the back. A heart gripping image to support legislation for clean air. This type of message is effective. This type of message is what people remember and what people talk about. Ethical? Yes, people need to know how their elected officials are voting. Another key issue floating around the LWV blogs and news release is the hot button issue of women's healthcare and contraception. The LWV comes out on the side of women and their right to make personal healthcare decisions. This is one of the most controversial issues I have seen them take a stance on yet. Possibly a good time to spur pathos with imagery? They frame the issue as one of women's right to healthcare services. This is not surprising the organizations deep connection to women's rights.