1. Ch.8 Sec.3

2. The role of mass media Medium: a means of communication.
4 major mass media are important in American politics: Television,Newspaper,radio, and Magazines

3. Television
First public demonstration of t.v. occurred at the New York Worlds Fair in 1939.
The first transcontinental broadcast came in 1951, Harry Truman addressed delegates attending the Japanese Peace Treaty Conference in San Francisco.
Main challenge to the domination have come from 3 sources:
1. Several independent broadcasting groups: ex. Fox Network
2. Cable broadcast: ex. Cable News Network (CNN)
3. Public Boradcasting system (PBS)

4. Newspaper
First regularly published newspaper in America; Boston News-letter, appeared in 1704.
By 1775, 37 newspapers were published throughout the colonies.
The newspaper has been declining throughout the years. Radio and T.V. and recently the internet has been a major factor in download trend.

5. Radio Radio like today began in 1920.
By 1927 over 700 commercial stations were on the air.
President Franklin Roosevelt was the first public figure to use the radio.

6. Magazines
Benjamin Franklin began one of the very first magazines (General Magazine) in Philedelphia in 1741.
Today the top news magazines are Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World report.

7. Limits on media influence
There’s a number of built-in factors that work to limit the media’s impact on the behavior of the American voting public.
15% of voters that can vote are well informed on the many candidates and issues.
Only a small part of the public actually takes in and understands much of what the media have to say about public affairs.
People usually vote for the candidates they see the most on television, newspapers, and in street prpaganda.

8. Cont.
Most television programs, for example, have little or nothing to do with public affairs, at least not directly.
Most advertisers air their propaganda during prime time.
Radio and television mostly “skim” the news.

9. Mass media’s influence