Media Chapter 7

Framers Felt free press was necessary to monitor government and assure the continuation of a democratic society First Amendment to the Constitution Watchdog role- intermediary between citizens and their government Inform public, give information, influence the direction of public policy Fourth estate- dates back to the British Parliament and implies an integral role for the press in the government, made up of local news, media corporations, average citizens

Linkage Institution Any established group that provides the means for the will of the people to get onto the government’s agenda. Parties Elections Interest groups Media Shape policy agenda- issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people involved in politics at a point in time

Roots of News Media Mass media Print sources, movies, tv, radio, web-based material Broadcast, cable, satellite technologies News media- one component of the larger mass media Newspapers, blogs, journalists Radio 1920s- KDKA first commercial radio station in 1920 Television 1940s and universal by 1960s (1963 NBC first network to have a 30 minute national news program)

Print Media Early as 1690 Federalists vs. Antifederalists played out in partisan newspapers Penny Press Benjamin Day founded the New York Sun Was not tied to a political party Inexpensive and politically independent was the forerunner of modern papers 19C. Payoffs to the press were common Joseph Pulitzer New York World- sensationalism and progressive crusades “yellow journalism” pictures, comics, color and sensationalized news coverage

Print Media CNN formed Candidate homepages on web Social Networking Death of newspapers

Print Media Muckraking- named by President Theodore Roosevelt after a special rake designed to collect manure. Devoted to exposing misconduct by government business and individual politicians.

Radio News Calvin Coolidge was the first president to appear on radio on a regular basis FDR- fireside chats to promote New Deal Programs Conservative radio rebounded in the 1980s and has continued to do well whereas many liberal programs struggled. NPR- National Public Radio- many liberals turn here but extensive studies have not shown any liberal bias

Television News 1963 most networks provided only 15 minutes of news per day but most people read newspapers 2010; 50% of Americans read a local newspaper and 17% read a national newspaper Growth of comedy news programs

Where do Americans get their news? 2010 Pew Internet and Public Life Study: Local TV News- 78% National Network or Cable News- 73% Internet 61% Radio News 54% Local Newspaper 50% Cell Phones 26% National Newspaper 17%

New Media C-SPAN- public access channel that through the main channel and its affiliates provides gavel to gavel coverage of the House and Senate and airs a variety of other public affairs programs Under 35- Internet news, blogs, social networking sites Internet- Advanced Research Projects Agency Network- late 1960s 2010; 61% of Americans claimed to get some of their news online Disparities b/c only view news sources that support one’s existing views and ideological preferences Will Americans devote the time necessary to find valid and balanced data?

Blogs Web-based journal entries that provide an editorial and news outlet for citizens Important informational tools linking together people with common ideological or issue-specific interests Some are babble, rumor mongering, others give reasoned discourse Drudge report, Red State, Townhall- right leaning Daily Kos, Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo- left leaning Concern that blogs are dominated by a small elite

Social Networking Sites Are they effective in spreading news?

Current Media Trends-Media Consolidation Private ownership of the media has proven to be a mixed blessing Market pressures that are driven by the bottom line compared to state-controlled media Should the media be dominated by a few mega-corporations? Most newspapers are- Gannett, Media News Group, McClatchy- account for more than 50% of daily circulation (top 10 papers) How does media consolidation affect news coverage?

Narrowcasting Targeting media programming at specific population within society Divide audiences by ideology Research shows that 45% of Democrats watch network news while less than 25% of Republicans do Rise of Spanish news programs Promotes interests of parts of the population but comes with a social cost- increases the chance that group members will rely on news that is appealing to their preexisting views Further polarization of public opinion

Increasing Use of Experts Journalists know little bits of information- do not specialize Cable stations they employ expert consultants from a number of different disciplines called pundits or talking heads Unclear how objective the “experts” are

Citizen Journalists Ordinary individuals who collect, report, and analyze news content Most are paid but some are unpaid and work for pleasure Many use Internet as a way to research interested news audience Bring in new perspectives, reach scenes of important events before news crews, democratizing force by allowing more people to participate in setting the agenda and framing issues But are not trained in rules and standards of journalism, not as likely to fact check or treat sources with same respect

Agenda Setting What is agenda setting? Process by which ideas or issues bubble up through the various political processes to wind up on the agenda of a political institution, such as a legislature or court. Extensive use of the mass media can take a relatively unknown or unsupported issue, and through publicity can expand the numbers who care about the issue so an institution is forced to take some action. Does the news media engage in agenda setting for the American people?

Rules Governing the News Media First- own integrity, industry norms and editors “Code of Ethics” standards for the industry to avoid conflicts of interests and verify information being reported “On the Record” – released to the public “Off the Record”- not released to the public “On Background”- not attributed to a named source (unnamed Gov. official) “Deep Background”- not attributed to any source

Government Regulations Libel and Slander- always illegal Prior Restraint New York Times vs. U.S. (1971) –”Only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose government scandal.” Can regulate air media better than print. Why? 1. airwaves are public property 2. airwaves are in limited supply and without restrictions one may impede on another Telecommunications Act- sought to provide an optimal balance of competing corporate interests, technological innovations, and consumer needs Deregulation of ownership standards has led to greater media consolidation

Government Regulations Content Regulations- limits on the substances of the media Equal time rule- broadcast stations must sell time equally to all candidates in a political campaign if they choose to sell it to any Press release- document offering an official comment or position Press briefing- restricted session between press secretary/aid and the press Press conference- unrestricted session between an elected official and the press

Three Branches of Government Congress- widely watched by the media Supreme Court- lives in a media vacuum President- widely watched by the media

News Media Influence Media effects- influence of news sources on public opinion 1. can sway public opinion and votes of people who lack strong political beliefs but that type of person may also be less likely to engage in political affairs 2. Likely that the media have a greater impact far removed from the lives and experiences of readers and viewers 3. Agenda setting- can influence the issues presented and discussed 4. Framing- media defines a political issue 5. Indirectly view the way the public views politicians and government