ABSTRACT
This chapter shows how Donald J. Trump masterfully earned news attention throughout his campaign by tweeting his thoughts on a whim. The message, no matter the subject, is aired uninterrupted by many radio and television stations or can be viewed by citizens on the White House website. The easiest way for a political figure to earn media in the modern age is through social media—especially the 280-character messages sent via Twitter that Trump sent during his campaign, especially at early and late hours of the day when he knew they could capture maximum attention. Franklin D. Roosevelt succeeded as president by dominating the radio airwaves. Roosevelt's embrace of radio was an acknowledgment of quickly shifting media habits. By 1933, radio was the more popular mode of news consumption as Americans realized that a box with speakers was a faster, cheaper, easier way to be informed and entertained.
