Chapter 10 The Media
Adversarial press
National press that’s suspicious of officialdom and eager to break an embarrassing story about a public official.
Attack journalism
A disregard for the integrity of others by the use of slanderous journalism.
Background story (news)
Public officials explanation of current policy provided to press
Confidentiality
The state of being secret
Equal time rule
Rule of FCC stating a broadcaster sells time to one candidate then must sell equal time to another.
Fairness doctrine
Requires broadcasters to give time to opposing views if the broadcast a program giving one side to a controversial issue
Feature story
Media reports about special events both to any reporter who care to inquire but involving acts not routinely covered.
Federal Communications Commission
an independent government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio and television and wire and cable and satellite
Gatekeeper
Someone who controls access to something
Insider stories
Information not usually made public but becomes public because someone with inside knowledge tells.
Loaded language
Words that reflect a value judgment used to persuade the listener without ma.king an argument
Market (television)
Area easily reached by a T.V. signal.
Mental tune-out
Only listening to the parts of a story that are favorable to your beliefs.
Muckraker
A journalist who searches through activities of government officials seeking to expose conduct opposing public opinion.
Party press
News on a particular po0litical party in favor of that party.
Political editorializing rule
If a broadcaster indorses a candidate an opposing candidate has opportunity to reply
Popular Press
A section of the media specifically designed to reach a large audience
Prior restraint
A view that the press is guarantied freedom of censorship.
Right-of-reply rule
If a person is attacked on a broadcast that person has the right to reply to that same station
Routine stories
Media reports that are regularly covered by reporters.
Scorekeeper
Keeps track of and helps of and helps make political reputations.
Selective attention
Paying attention only to those parts of a story with which one agrees.
Sound bite
Brief statement less that a few seconds long used routinely on radio broadcast.
Trial balloon
Information provided by the media by an anonymous person as a way of testing public reaction.
Watchdog
One who serves as a guardian or protector against waste, loss, or illegal practices.
Yellow Journalism
Sensationalism in news, reporting that only bears a superficial resemblance to journalism. Not factual.