Chapter Media Media bias in elections Debate While watching debate, write down what influence the media has on politics….both individual candidates and elections in general.

OBJECTIVES AND AGENDA 1/27  OBJECTIVES  List the differences and similarities between US and foreign media  Argue the influence Media has on American life. Is the Media Liberal?  List the rules that dictate the media.  AGENDA---review schedule for the next two weeks  WARM-UP—Watch the video on media bias and debates. As you are watching, write down the effect media may have had on the election in Discuss  Themes of the new and old media  What are the problems with the media?  What means has government enacted to control the effect of the media?  Patriots example  How influential is the media?—see chart with broadcast examples  Discuss the rules governing the media.  What are the differences between Broadcast and Print media  See examples

History of the Media—Major themes  1. Changing media  Television and Internet vs. newspapers and magazines  Party Press, Popular press, Magazines, Electronic Journalism, Internet  More television viewers than newspaper  Blog postings vs. magazine articles  2. Differences in media between Europe and US  Europe laws are stricter English libelEnglish libel  1. libel laws are stricter  2. Official Secrets Act—illegal to leak information (prison for false or offensive articles.  3. US long tradition of private ownership.  Limits of newspapers---Profit driven: sensationalize story  Media bias---one side of story—editors and writers  4. Adversarial nature of politics and media  Mutual mistrust.  Both attempt to manipulate the other  Very little possible government control Print Media vs. broadcast—Libel laws or FCC

Example: Patriots and Tom Brady  1. Take one minute to write down your opinions and the news you know about the above topic. (OTHER THAN THEY GOT THEIR BUTTS KICKED ON SUNDAY)  Cheat Score Cheat Score  Contradicted Facts Contradicted Facts

Influence of the Media  Roles: Gatekeeper, Scorekeeper, Watchdog  1. More “liberal” than the average citizen  2. Majority is also more secular.  3. Conservative media (radio) more visible (conservatives do not think their views are reflected)  4. Neutral and Objective????  A. differences with Routine, Feature, or Insider stories  B. Bias??? SEE NEXT SLIDE!!!!!  5. GOVERNMENT AND MEDIA  Congress never as much as President—importance!!!  CSPAN—Both Senate and House---100% of time (committee hearings)  Leaks??—Separation of powers  1. Adversarial since Vietnam/Watergate/iran-contra  2. Intense competition----Public distrust record highs  3. Sources—both need each other (rewards for less critical— no readers if not sensational)

Rules governing the media  1. Print media --dictated by the Constitution: 1 st Amendment rules: Libel, public figures law, prior restraint, Confidentiality of sources—(compel if bears on a crime)  2. Competition with print media has been deregulated.  1900—60% of cities had competing newspapers  1972—4%--now news is really oriented to local market---most national news comes from National Media (AP, UPI, National Magazines, CNN, FOX, MSNBC. USA Today  3. Broadcasting: See next slide for examples  FCC  License renewal—7 years for radio—5 for television— ”Community needs” regulation—relaxation of renewal  Ownership and content Relaxing standards  Fairness doctrine—abolished—controversial radio rise  Campaigning  Equal access and rates  Debates now sponsored to major candidates  “Horse-race journalism—focus on leading candidate—not issues

Difference between Print and Broadcast Media  PRINT MEDIA  Broadcast Media  Wardrobe Malfunction Wardrobe Malfunction  Howard Stern Howard Stern