Media & Politics

What is the function of news in society?

Traditional function of news n Present a portrait of reality on which the citizen can act

First Amendment Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press... News media as the “Fourth Estate”

TV and Politics n Americans get 80% of their political information from television n Why might this be problem? n Concerns about the nature of TV news n How do local newscasts differ from national newscasts?

Video “Illusions of News” By Bill Moyers

TV news criticized for n Emphasizing the "horse race" n... Conflict & controversy n... Ignoring issues n Priorities of coverage u (small news hole)

CELEBRITY POLITICS n Media “treatment” of political campaigns n Superficial focus of coverage n Policy debate v. game of "gotcha"

Media create their own narrative (story) n Action n Dynamism n Drama

Media Critique n TV leads to “celebrity reporting” n Media, rather than candidates or parties set agenda

n Greater focus on image (character flaws) n Battle of media metaphors n The frat boy v. the truth stretcher n The _______ v. the _________

n Passive public n Products of an entertainment culture n Media both humanize & trivialize the political process n Nation like a film audience that only reads the review

First Amendment n Public support is eroding n Some blame the press itself

Lawrence Grossman  Broadcasters as public trustees of the public airwaves  Shrinking political coverage on network news  Network "profit center" vs "loss leader"  Diminished public service role  What is Grossman's proposal?

Is this news?