By Emma Crystal, Cassie MacDonell, & Amanda Mazzei
Case Description
United States President Joe Biden is the oldest politician to take presidential office in American history. During his campaign and time in office, Biden has been the recipient of criticism about his older age and cognitive ability. Using a video from Australia’s Sky News and headlines from USA’s Fox News, this case examines what part media has to play in public allegations that Biden is “too old” to be efficient in his position.
Critical Analysis of Ethical Issues Involved
In a Sky News segment titled “Joe Biden is ‘mentally impaired’ and ‘not fit to be President,’” a choppy montage of Biden’s “mishaps” is played. The show’s hosts have a laugh as Biden is shown stuttering through speeches and falling off a bike. The byline that accompanies the video reads “U.S considers what is too old as Biden turns 80,” which associates Biden’s “blunders” with his age.
Although both facts are true—that Biden has had his fair share of mishaps and that he is 80-years-old—there is no reason to believe that these missteps are due to his age. In fact, Biden has had a speech impediment all his life.
Biden’s speech impediment is highlighted to bring attention to his age, portraying him as confused and vulnerable. This presents an example of intergenerational ageism, which occurs when older adults are portrayed as unequal or inferior to younger demographics.
The video then goes on to portray other older adults as superior due to their physical and cognitive abilities. “I know a lot of 80-year-olds who would run rings around [Biden], and they’re not the president of the United States,” says the guest on the show. This presents an example of intragenerational ageism, which occurs when one group of older adults are viewed as unequal or inferior to a different group of older adults.
Often, this disparity appears when comparing “vulnerable” seniors to seniors who are portrayed as courageous. The reading Media Portrayal of Older Adults Across Five Canadian Disasters defines a “vulnerable” senior as an older person with a visible disability. The media often portrays them as fearful, confused or scared, as we’ve seen with the portrayal of Biden as “cognitively vulnerable” and perplexed.
In an article posted by Sky News not long after their video was posted, titled “80-year-old Biden falsely claims Delaware has most chickens in the nation,” the blunders are once again claimed to be due to Biden’s age.
Important to note is the uniqueness of Biden’s media portrayal, given his status as the President of the United States and the oldest president in U.S. history. This also raises the question, “Is this reporting?”
The media highlighting Biden’s use of a “cheat sheet” at events like the G20 Summit and falling off a bike does nothing more than bring attention to his age. Sky News leaving Biden’s age in their headline makes their ageist reporting especially clear. Photo and video journalism also play a significant role in reinforcing negative perceptions of aging.
As was evident in the Sky News segment, out of context clips of Biden stuttering and falling off a bike were all the show’s hosts needed to see to form their opinion of Biden as too old and vulnerable. It’s mostly about what the journalist chooses to tell the reader or viewer.
Instead of reporting on the “cheat sheet” at the G20 Summit, why not report on what Biden said at the Summit? Additionally, the reading Media Portrayal of Older Adults Across Five Canadian Disasters suggests that positive portrayals of older adults can help mitigate the negative perceptions of aging in media. Instead of highlighting Biden’s fall while riding a bike, why not highlight the positive image of a prominent political figure partaking in a physical activity?
The reading also presents the idea that an older adult who partakes in community engagement can be seen in a positive light. Biden’s case as the oldest President of the United States stands as a unique exception. In Biden’s case, we can also see the North American view of aging as regression, as referenced in the reading. The media’s relentless portrayal of Biden as confused and vulnerable continues to be a predominant example of ageism as brought on by the media.
Discussion Questions
1. How can journalists better report on age?
2. What are other examples of ageism in the news?
3. Is it always necessary to include the age of subjects when writing and filming stories?
Bibliography
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