Student Scholarship

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive history and analysis of Meet the Press from its inception as a radio program in 1945 through its first decade as a dominant force in television news. Created by Martha Rountree and Lawrence Spivak, the program aimed to bring the American public closer to their government by presenting spontaneous, unrehearsed interviews with key newsmakers. The research illustrates how the show transitioned from a radio forum to a televised institution that frequently dictated the following morning's newspaper headlines. 

The document details the internal mechanics of the program, including the rigorous selection process for both guest panelists and interviewees. It emphasizes that while the format appears simple, the success of the show relies on the producer's ability to secure the right person at the peak of a news cycle. The analysis explores the program's influence on domestic and international affairs, citing landmark broadcasts such as Elizabeth Bentley’s spy accusations, Governor Thomas Dewey’s endorsement of Dwight Eisenhower, and the high-profile 1959 interview with Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan. 

Furthermore, the study examines audience demographics and response, noting that the program consistently outperformed its competitors in ratings while attracting an educated, politically aware viewership. Despite facing some criticism regarding its aggressive questioning tactics, the show earned numerous accolades, including the Peabody and Emmy awards, for its contribution to public service. The author concludes that Meet the Press serves a vital role in a democratic society by providing a platform for the personal appraisal of public servants and remains a fundamental tool for public enlightenment in the age of mass communication.

Research Highlights

  • The Problem: Gay Pauly addresses the need to evaluate the nature and extent of influence that televised news panel shows, specifically Meet the Press, exert on public thought, opinion, and action during an era of increased television dominance. 

  • The Method: The study employs a historical review of the program from 1945 to 1960, "on-the-spot" observations of show planning, and primary source interviews with executive producer Lawrence Spivak, associate producer Betty Cole, and public relations representatives from the Democratic and Republican National Committees. 

  • Quantitative Finding: The average per capita daily television viewing time in 1960 was five hours and twenty minutes; Meet the Press national ratings grew from 5.7 in 1950 to 10.51 in 1953; the January 1959 interview with Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Mikoyan reached approximately 15,000,000 viewers with a 16.4 Trendex rating. 

  • Qualitative Finding: The program's success is attributed to a "formula" of interviewing the right person at the right time with an informed panel; the show functions as a "press conference of the air" that frequently generates Monday morning newspaper headlines; critics and participants debate whether the show's primary goal is to inform the public or provide dramatic entertainment. 

Publication Date

1-1960

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

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