Regulation of Mass Media

How does the government try to control the mass media? Linkage Institutions Mass Media How does the government try to control the mass media?

Ownership Mass Media

Mass Media Ownership Private Ownership Media outlets in the United States are owned by private firms Many other countries have state owned media outlets 100 This ownership allows more freedom for media outlets in the US, especially in ability to be critical of the government. Journalists are supposed to be able to work without fear of threats or imprisonment from the government

Mass Media Ownership Private Ownership Media outlets are totally dependent on advertising revenue, which is based mostly on the size of their audiences Public ownership would allow the media to inform the public without worrying about the size of audience 100 As more large corporations purchase media outlets, those outlets become more profit driven

Mass Media Ownership Private Ownership Media ownership is becoming more concentrated in the hands of large corporations and chains of outlets. Large corporations that are more profit oriented are more likely to focus on increasing profits 100 This leads to more “cost cutting” in the production of the news – tactics like talking heads in place of produced segments or reports There is a lot less foreign coverage and reporters dedicated to government beats & more reliance on services like the Associated Press

Mass Media Ownership Telecommunications Act of 1996 The goal was to deregulate media ownership to adapt to modern conditions This reduced limits on the amount of outlets that a person could own. 100 This reduced limits on cross ownership – owning broadcast and cable outlets This has led to increased concentration of media ownership in fewer hands

Mass Media Ownership Telecommunications Act of 1996 Every 2 years, they have to review their ownership rules to see if they are “necessary” It must repeal any regulation that is no longer in the public interest 100 Over 4000 radio stations nationwide have been bought up Minority ownership of TV stations has dropped to its lowest point since 1990.

Mass Media Ownership Consolidation - advantages Quality media should win out – what’s popular in one place probably works in another There is less government control 100 Larger companies are better able to adapt newer technologies because they can handle the cost May allow struggling outlets to stay in business longer, as the parent company is better able to handle the losses.

Mass Media Ownership Consolidation - disadvantages Lack of competing views – as all outlets are in fewer hands, we hear a smaller variety of voices Even more focus on profits than in informing the public 100 Corporate owned media is more loyal to their advertisers There is less representation of women and minorities Local reporting is emphasized less than pre-packaged reports

Mass Media Ownership 100

Mass Media Ownership 100

FCC Regulation Mass Media

Mass Media Regulation Regulating Media First amendment guarantees a free press – which does protect journalists Regulations on public broadcasters are allowed, since they use government infrastructure to broadcast their content. The courts, the FCC, and the FTC all play a role in regulation of the media

Mass Media Regulation Federal Communications Commission The FCC was set up in 1934 to regulate interstate communications It regulates broadcast stations for radio and televisions It has the power to fine or even revoke licenses of stations that do not comply with rules

Mass Media FCC Regulation Licenses The FCC grants licenses to individuals who want TV or radio stations The licenses are reviewed every 5 years and are almost always renewed The FCC is supposed to ensure that the media outlet is “serving the public interest” Also creates the infrastructure for the public to register complaints about broadcasters for what they show

Rules now allow a single company to own 45%% of the media in a market. Mass Media FCC Regulation Ownership The FCC intends to preserve a diversity of viewpoints in each market and ensure that local needs are being met It also limits ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market The FCC has rules limiting the national share of media ownership of broadcast television & radio stations Rules now allow a single company to own 45%% of the media in a market.

Mass Media FCC Regulation Content The FCC monitors the content of programming on broadcast outlets This includes restrictions on indecency or obscenity. It will issues significant fines for broadcasting of material that breaks these guidelines Fines increased significantly after the Janet Jackson halftime show in which a bare breast was broadcast live on TV and can now go as high as $500,000

The FCC set ratings guidelines for all TV programming. Mass Media FCC Regulation Content The FCC set ratings guidelines for all TV programming. This was in response to public concerns for increasingly explicit sexual content, violence & profanity This was implemented along with a V-chip built in to all TVs , but these guidelines have no actual legal force Using these ratings is voluntary, but every rated program tends to display the rating for a few seconds after every commercial break.

Mass Media FCC Regulation Content Limits profane content including “grossly offensive” language Limits any portrayal sexual or excretory organs Limits depictions of drug use or excessive graphic violence There are stricter guidelines for broadcast TV & radio between 6am & 10om when there’s a chance that children are watching

Mass Media FCC Regulation Political Content The FCC needs to ensure that broadcast networks are not presenting one sided versions of the news The Fairness Doctrine was a rule requiring the stations to present controversial issues in a manner that ass balanced. Broadcasters had to devote some airtime to controversial issues of public interest by airing contrasting viewpoints. It did not require equal time, but did require the viewpoints be presented.

Ronald Reagan ended the policy in 1987 Mass Media FCC Regulation Political Content Ronald Reagan ended the policy in 1987 By then, the number of cable networks was expanding & they were not bound by the same rule Broadcasters were held to a much higher standard than their cable competitors, so the policy was ended The demise of this rule is cited as a factor in increasing party polarization

Mass Media FCC Regulation Political Content The equal time provision is still a policy that is enforced on broadcasters Broadcasters must give equal opportunity to any opposing political candidates who request it. This mostly applies to the purchase and airing of campaign material, or opportunities to campaign There are exceptions to this rule, because its impossible to completely enforce

This does not apply to candidates shown as part of a documentary Mass Media FCC Regulation Political Content This does not apply to candidates shown as part of a documentary If this is an actual interview as part of a news story, they don’t have to go interview all of the candidates It there’s an actual news event that involves a candidate, the equal time rule does not apply

Bigly Ideas Beliefs & Behaviors

Mass Media Wrap Up Impacts of Private Ownership Concentration of Media FCC Regulations Focus on these things: