Media Fourth Estate, Information Source, Government Watchdog This presentation is the property of Dr. Kevin Parsneau for use by him and his current students. No other person may use or reprint without his permission.

Media and Democracy What is the media and its role in democracy? How does the media affect public opinion? What are the major trends in media coverage? How is the media biased?

Main Media Sources Newspapers Radio Television Internet

Government and the Media Equal Time Rule Right of Rebuttal Fairness Doctrine

Government and the Media Equal Opportunity Rule Reasonable Access Rule Right of Rebuttal Fairness Doctrine F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission)

Media Effects Hypodermic Effect? Agenda setting Priming Framing

Media Trends Television is king Nationalization of news Centrality of the President Investigative reporting Demise of Newspapers Oversimplify Sound bytes “Horse Race” coverage

Media Trends Sound Bytes Seconds of Coverage for Presidential Candidates How long do the major networks allow for actual statements by the candidates for president in nightly news coverage (in seconds)?

Media Bias Considerations Political Science has had a difficult time identifying a systematic ideological distortion in overall news coverage. Challenges to finding bias… Some findings – Reporters – Editors – Ownership – Bipartisanship

Other Biases Status Quo Bias Foreign affairs Negativity Commercial Bias Infotainment

Media and Democracy The media has the role of informing the public and serving as a watchdog on government. Although there are some regulations of the media, freedom of the press is an important part of democracy. Media indirectly can affect public opinion but not in the manner alarmists feared. Media has changed since newspapers and the Golden Era of television. Although there are charges of liberal and conservative bias, there is stronger evidence of other types of bias in the media.