Mass Media Media Conspiracy? Liberal Press? Chapter 10 Mass Media Media Conspiracy? Liberal Press?

The Structure of the Media

1. Newspapers a. Number of daily newspapers has declined significantly b. Number of cities with multiple papers has declined c. 60 percent of cities had competing newspapers in 1990, now <40%

2. Radio and Television   a. Intensely competitive, becoming more so b. Composed mostly of locally owned and managed enterprises, unlike Europe c. Orientation to local market   d. Limitations by FCC; widespread ownership created

3. The National Media Consists of: a. Wire services b. National magazines c. Television networks d. Newspapers with national readerships

4. The Internet a. Ultimate free market in political news b. Voters and political activists talk to one another (Blogging) c. Role of social Media

Role of the Media

1. Gatekeeper: what is news, for how long 2. Scorekeeper: who is winning, losing 3. Watchdog: investigate personalities and expose scandals Watergate (Woodward and Bernstein)

Rules Governing the Media

Newspapers vs. Electronic Media Newspapers almost entirely free from government regulation Radio and television are licensed and regulated What about the Internet? Communications Decency Act (1995)

B. Confidentiality of Sources 1. Reporters want right to keep sources confidential Shield laws 2. Most states and federal government disagree 3. Supreme Court allows government to compel reporters to divulge information in court if it may influence outcome

C. Regulating broadcasting FCC licensing a. Seven years for radio b. Five years for television c. Stations must serve "community needs" d. Public service, other aspects can be regulated

2. Recent movement to deregulate 3. Radio broadcasting deregulated the most Telecommunications Act of 1996 permits one company to own as many as eight stations in large markets (five in smaller ones) (SEE % in 2 slides) b. Results: Few large companies now own most of the big-market radio stations Less variety in the media

The largest company is ClearChannel Network Here in Detroit they own 1130 AM, 1310 AM, 106.7 FM, 98.7 FM, 95.5 FM and 100.3 FM Another major network is They own Channel 7 and Channel 50 here

4. Other Radio and Television Regulations a. Equal time rule b. Right-of-Reply rule (President’s Sat. Add.)

The Effects of the Media on Politics

Studies on media influence on elections: Generally inconclusive, because of citizens: Selective attention b. Mental tune-out 2. Products can be sold more easily than candidates 3. Newspaper endorsements of candidates

Government and the Media

Prominence of the president -Press secretary today: large staff, many functions B. Coverage of Congress -Never equal to that of president; members resentful

Interpreting Political News

A. Are news stories slanted? Bias? Why do we have so many news leaks? C. Sensationalism in the media D. Government constraints on journalists

E. Governmental tools to fight back 1. Numerous press officers 2. Press releases, canned news 3. Leaks and background stories to favorites 4. Bypass national press for local 5. Presidential rewards and punishments for reporters based on their stories

History of the Media

A. The party press Parties created and subsidized various newspapers (these will be discussed) 2. Circulation was small, newspapers expensive, advertisers few 3. Newspapers circulated among political and commercial elites who would pay

B. The popular press 1. Changes in society and technology made the press self-supporting and able to reach mass readership a. High-speed press b. Telegraph c. Associated Press, 1848; objective reporting d. Urbanization allowed large numbers to support paper

2. Influence of publishers, editors created partisan bias a. "Yellow journalism" to attract readers b. William Hearst foments war against Spain, as does Joseph Pulitzer in 1898 Pulitzer was editor of the New York World Hearst was publisher of the New York Morning Journal

C. Magazines of Opinion Middle class favors new, progressive periodicals a. Nation, Atlantic, Harper's in 1850s and 1860s on behalf of certain issues b. McClure's, Scribner's, Cosmopolitan later were famous for investigative reporting

2. Individual writers gain national followings through investigative reporting. These people were known as….. Muckrakers Ida Tarbell was one of the most famous She went after John D. Rockefeller

3. Number of competing newspapers declines, as does sensationalism 4. Today the number of national magazines focusing on politics accounts for a small and declining fraction of magazines What’s replaced the print media? THE INTERNET

Electronic Journalism

1. Radio arrives in the 1920s, television in the 1940s 2. Politicians could address voters directly, but people could easily ignore them 3. Fewer politicians could be covered a. President routinely covered b. Others must use bold tactics to get attention

b. These new sources feature lengthy interviews 4. The Big Three networks have made it harder for candidates by shortening sound bites a. But politicians have more sources: cable, early morning  news, news magazine shows b. These new sources feature lengthy interviews

5. Recent rise in the talk show as a political forum has increased politicians' access to electronic media Bill O’Reilly Rush Limbaugh Tim Russert Al Franken

Blogs Wonkette Online roundup of gossip from Washington, D.C. and the U.S. political arena from Ana Marie Cox. www.wonkette.com InstaPundit Commentary on politics, science, and culture by Glenn Reynolds. www.instapundit.com Sullivan, Andrew Independent journalist provides a daily dish, and links to some of his more controversial pieces. www.andrewsullivan.com Talking Points Memo Political discussion by Joshua Micah Marshall. www.talkingpointsmemo.com Free Republic Gathering place for independent, grass-roots conservatism on the Web. www.freerepublic.com Democratic Underground Daily missives against George W. Bush. www.democraticunderground.com