Journalism U.S. journalism traditions
Colonial period Benjamin Harris--Publick Occurrences John Peter Zenger case--NY Journal stamp tax--colonial defiance: “newspaper war on Britain”
Main traditions from colonial period news media are independent from government news media try to mold government policy--editorial page journalists are committed to seeking truth public favors independent news media
Partisan period: the “party press” Post debate over constitution strong center or loose confederation? Federalist Papers
Problems during Partisan period Alien and Sedition Acts Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Ended with election of Thomas Jefferson
Lessons learned from partisan period Government should keep its hands off the press press is forum for discussion and debate-- press should comment on public issues people reject government when it transgresses against the press
Penny press period Benjamin Day’s NY Sun advertising supported broad appeal to working classes needed social &economic factors –industrialization –urbanization –immigration –literacy
Other Penny Press editors James Gordon Bennett--NY Herald Horace Greeley--NY Tribune Henry Raymond--NY Times
New trends inverted pyramid--AP objective reporting--neutral perspective appeals to general audience entertaining, sensationalistic at times aggressive news coverage committed to social improvement timeliness
Yellow Press era Joseph Pulitzer –Nellie By William Randolph Hearst –Spanish American War Opposed to Yellow Journalism –Adolph Ochs--NY Times
Personal values in news Journalist’s judgment: what is news? Herbert Gans’s research –ethnocentrism--through U.S. eyes –commitment to democracy & capitalism –small town pastoralism –individualism, but moderation –social order
Variables affecting news news hole news flow and staffing perceptions about audience availability of material competition –“pack” and “herd” journalism
Journalistic bias myth--journalists are “left,” “liberal” reality--most are political center most are politically independent news decisions on deadline news concerned with change doesn’t care about status quo watchdog tradition adversary of gov’t
Non-newsroom influences on news executive, corporate orders pandering to advertiser interests sociology of newsroom--like-minded people make similar decisions pressure from sources –manipulation by publicists –staged events--stunts
Gatekeeping--at home and abroad gatekeepers-- dozens in journalism food chain selective perception reporter bias editors decisions on every level
Global gatekeeping Competition for distant news news agencies AP UPI Reuters AFP Video news services
Possible effects of APvideo coverage –more “herd” journalism Network cutbacks Government deregulation Independent stations New technologies –Internet, digital media
Syndicates What is a syndicate? –Features for sale Types of syndicated services –political columns and cartoons –comics –advice and how to columns –reviews and literature –horoscopes & crossword puzzles
Journalism trends Soft news Exploratory reporting –sophisticated –computer assisted interpretative investigative –Watergate