1. AP Government: Chapter Seven
Mass Media and the Political Agenda

2. Government & Media http://www.drudgereport.com/

3. Definitions
High Tech Politics: Politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers as well as the political agenda itself is increasingly shaped by technology
Mass Media: Key part; TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, and internet; Reach and profoundly influence not only the elites but also the masses
Media Event: Staged primarily for the purpose of being covered
Press Conferences: Presidential meeting with reporters

4. Opinion Leaders http://thebluesite.com/images/oreillymay312005.jpg

5. Investigative Reporting
Detective-like reporting methods to unearth scandals

6. Federal Communications Commission
1934 Congress created FCC to regulate use of airwaves
Radio, TV, telephone, cable, satellite
Congress uses its control over purse strings to influence commission

7. FCC Members

8. Media’s Influence 2/3 Americans subscribe to cable TV
Narrow casting: focus on particular group; particular interest
(C-SPAN, CNN, ESPN, etc)
American media is free and independent when it comes to journalistic content, they are totally dependent on advertising revenues to keep their businesses going
Major media in America are big business today and potentially the source of great profits

9. Massive Conglomerates
Today’s media conglomerates control newspapers with over 80% of the nation’s daily circulation
4/5 newspaper subscribers now read a newspaper owned not by a fearless local editor but by a corporation headquartered elsewhere (many control TV and radio stations as well)
News reporting is a business in America

10. Definitions Beat: Specific locations from which news often emanates
Trial Balloons: information leaked to see what the political reaction will be
Sound bites: 15 secs. or less on TV (of political speeches