The News

What should the news tell us to make us informed citizens?

Jon Stewarts critique A free and independent press is essential to the health of a functioning democracy. It serves to inform the voting public on matters relevant to its well-being. Why theyve stopped doing that is a mystery. I mean, 300 camera crews outside a courthouse to see what Kobe Bryant is wearing when the judge sets his hearing date, while false information used to send our country to war goes unchecked? What the f*** happened? A free and independent press is essential to the health of a functioning democracy. It serves to inform the voting public on matters relevant to its well-being. Why theyve stopped doing that is a mystery. I mean, 300 camera crews outside a courthouse to see what Kobe Bryant is wearing when the judge sets his hearing date, while false information used to send our country to war goes unchecked? What the f*** happened?

What are the different types of news we can consume?

We consume each because they are important to us, (for different reasons) Health Health Business Business Sports Sports Weather Weather Consumer Consumer Crime Crime Entertainment Entertainment Public Affairs Public Affairs As people As investors As fans To choose our clothes To help us make purchases Because ??? Its fun Its our duty?

What kinds of stories are important to us as citizens of our city, state, and the United States?

Two types of news story Hard news Hard news Facts and figures Facts and figures Soft news Soft news Evokes emotion, tells the human side of the facts Evokes emotion, tells the human side of the facts

How does the news media decide what information to provide?

What guides news content? Economics of the news business Economics of the news business (Benefits to society of an informed public are NOT in the bottom line) (Benefits to society of an informed public are NOT in the bottom line) Norms of the journalistic profession Norms of the journalistic profession

Citizens as news consumers Rational ignorance Rational ignorance People seek news for duty, diversion, and drama People seek news for duty, diversion, and drama

Economics of News Why is news a public good? Why is news a public good? One persons consumption does not diminish the ability of another to consume it (non-rivalrous) One persons consumption does not diminish the ability of another to consume it (non-rivalrous) Once news is provided, you can consume it without paying for it (non-exclusive) Once news is provided, you can consume it without paying for it (non-exclusive) Why is that important? Why is that important?

Hamiltons argument Production of news is costly Production of news is costly Profit motivates its production Profit motivates its production If and how a story appears depends on: If and how a story appears depends on: How many people will pay to consume it How many people will pay to consume it Which people they are Which people they are How desirable those people are to advertisers How desirable those people are to advertisers

Economic factors that affect news coverage Competition Low standards Low quality (race to the bottom) Herding behavior

Economic factors that affect news coverage Competition Low standards Low quality (race to the bottom) Herding behavior Technology Cheaper to buy rather than produce Homogenized product Superficial coverage Recycling of stories

Economic factors that affect news coverage Competition Low standards Low quality (race to the bottom) Herding behavior Technology Cheaper to buy rather than produce Homogenized product Superficial coverage Recycling of stories Public good/ pricing problem Hard news under-produced

Professional factors that affect news coverage Get a story in the paper Homogeneity, herding

Professional factors that affect news coverage Get a story in the paper Homogeneity, herding Get it on the front page Cozy relationships with sources Bias toward conflict stories

Professional factors that affect news coverage Get a story in the paper Homogeneity, herding Get it on the front page Cozy relationships with sources Bias toward conflict stories Be respected by your peers Oppositional bias

Can the media be made to serve democracy? Taxes and subsidies Taxes and subsidies Encourage local news ownership Encourage local news ownership Make information available cheaply Make information available cheaply Change property rights of broadcasters Change property rights of broadcasters Stimulation of demand through education Stimulation of demand through education Creation of professional norms Creation of professional norms

What about bias? Where is it evident? Story choice Story choice Placement Placement Headlines Headlines Framing Framing Photographs Photographs

Is there a partisan bias? Journalists are partisans Journalists are partisans Economic incentive is to sell to as many people as possible Economic incentive is to sell to as many people as possible There is room for a profitable niche partisan market There is room for a profitable niche partisan market

Why does the press matter? How does the press affect public opinion? Priming: the news influences which issues we judge to be the most important issues of the day. Priming: the news influences which issues we judge to be the most important issues of the day.

Ranking of most important issue facing America: Iyengar and Kinder, Experiment 1 Before experiment 1. Inflation 2. Pollution 3. Unemployment 4. Energy 5. Civil Rights 6. Defense preparedness After experiment 1. Inflation 2. Defense preparedness 3. Pollution 4. Unemployment 5. Energy 6. Civil Rights

Good sources of news? PBSwhat does the news look like when you take away the profit motive? PBSwhat does the news look like when you take away the profit motive? Google/Yahoo/MSN??? Google/Yahoo/MSN??? TV vs. newspaper? TV vs. newspaper?

Daily show: Americans are stupid Daily show: Americans are stupid Daily show: Americans are stupid Daily show: Americans are stupid Daily show: fact checking and cnn Daily show: fact checking and cnn Daily show: fact checking Daily show: fact checking Daily show: what the news covers Daily show: what the news covers Daily show: what the news covers Daily show: what the news covers Daily show: news advertising Daily show: news advertising Daily show: news advertising Daily show: news advertising