Robert Kubey
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Robert Kubey is Director of the Center for Media Studies and Professor of Journalism & Media Studies, at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Prof. Kubey's latest book is Creating Television. He has written articles for the New York Times, Scientific American, and other major publications and has appeared on television and radio programs throughout the world, including CNN, ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC's Today Show. News reports about his research have been carried by the major wire services and news outlets of the world.

Blog Entries by Robert Kubey

Obama's Team Can Use YouTube Better

Posted November 24, 2008 | 00:23:42 (EST)

President-elect Obama's team needs to keep our new leader from making the sort of speech he made Saturday, Nov. 22.

His weekly address this past Saturday, on the formation of his economic team, presented via YouTube, was--in a word--weak. Just take a look:

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Exit Polls and Early Election Calls Interfere with Our Democratic Process

Posted November 4, 2008 | 17:59:21 (EST)

I am as eager as the next person to know the results of tonight's presidential election, but also know that I should restrain my intense interest. In principle, I oppose early projections in any state until all the polls across the entire nation are closed.

I'm really at odds...

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Obama Will Leave Us Without Defense Systems is the Charge in Fake Soundbite Attack Ad Running on CNN

Posted November 4, 2008 | 01:43:59 (EST)

An ad attacking Sen. Obama, apparently just released, convincingly fakes Obama's voice, with him saying he is against various conventional defense systems. The ad was running Monday and election eve on CNN. It comes from a group called letfreedomring.com.

The ad's clear aim it to instill fear in less informed...

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Obama Soundbites Faked in PAC Attack Ad on CNN Moments Ago

Posted November 3, 2008 | 23:13:02 (EST)

Just moments ago, at 10:55 pm EST on CNN a PAC attack ad ran from something called "letfreedomring.com" in which Sen. Obama's voice is heard arguing against various weapons systems. These appear to be fake soundbites.

The ad's clear aim it to instill real fear into voters hours before the...

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McCain's Rev. Wright Attack Ad Can Drive Undecideds: Polling Science Tells Us So

Posted November 2, 2008 | 23:11:04 (EST)

In these last hours of the campaign, the sudden onslaught of McCain 527 "swiftboat" style Rev. Jeremiah Wright attack ads are worrisome and could swing undecided voters and shift close battleground states into the McCain column.

The ads show Rev. Jeremiah Wright and we hear his voice saying "God...

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McCain "Kills" on SNL

Posted November 2, 2008 | 02:45:30 (EST)

Sen. John McCain made one of most memorable political appearances in SNL history last night. In his opening sketch, and in the "Weekend Update" segment, in the lingo of the comedy world, he "killed."

He humanized himself and demonstrated that he and his campaign could have a terrific sense of...

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Barack Smear Ad in SNL Prequel Moments Ago

Posted November 2, 2008 | 00:33:48 (EST)


Something called goptrust.com just ran an ad inside a repeat-from-last-week SNL show.

The ad ran about 10:50 pm EST, I believe. The resurrects Rev. Jeremiah Wright and footage of him speaking, and then we see and maybe hear words saying Barack Obama, Too Risky and Too Radical for...

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Sarah Palin's Appearance on SNL a Huge GOP Disaster

Posted October 19, 2008 | 02:33:00 (EST)

Sarah Palin joined SNL tonight and proved, once again, that John McCain lacked judgment in having her on his ticket, while also unwise not to veto her SNL appearance. In isolation, Palin's very brief moments were not, in themselves, the problem. The problem was largely contextual.

Consider, for example, the...

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Obama's Lead Solidifying: Cool, Kennedy Style Trumps Hot Opponent McCain

Posted October 17, 2008 | 21:45:15 (EST)

In the 1960s, the so-called "guru of media," Marshall McLuhan, dubbed television the "cool medium." He used the "hot-cool medium" distinction to explain why and how John Kennedy won the presidency and in particular, beat Richard Nixon in the very first presidential debate in history.

For McLuhan, Kennedy was the...

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