The Media A Brief, Quick Overview AP Government Chapter 12, Themes A & B

Pop Quiz Name big three networks on the public airwaves. 2. Name 1 role of the media. 3. What 2-word term means that viewers choose what to watch and process? 4. Name a conservative media outlet. 5. What must a public official prove in order to collect damages in a libel suit against the media? 6. What is the name of the channel that covers Congress gavel to gavel?

Media Basics Here & Abroad  US press one of the freest in the world: John Peter Zenger case 1 st Amendment Strict libel laws Private ownership of media outlets Leaks are commonplace FOIA allows media to force transparency

Types of Media  Print media: magazines, pamphlets, books, and newspapers Declining in importance Many print resources folded or no longer in print Advertisers have abandoned for electronic media Almost no regulation

Types of Media  Electronic media: Television, radio, Internet Largest source of information Constantly evolving Radio & TV regulated by FCC Internet lacks any real regulation Internet today allows many sources of information—pluralist power

Periods in Journalism in US  The Party Press Expensive & usually exclusive to political elites Small area of circulation Many newspapers and editors were on government payroll From founding until mid-1800s newspapers were overtly partisan

Periods in Journalism in US  Rise of the Popular Press Development of high-speed rotary press Telegraph invented— “News in a flash” Urbanization—Mass circulation Creation of Associated Press Profits via advertising, sensationalism & “yellow journalism” End of government subsidies—GPO created in 1860 Publishing moguls and their empires prospered (Hearst, Pulitzer)

Periods in Journalism in US  Magazines of Opinion Driven by reform-minded Progressives Roots of investigative reporting AKA “Muckrakers”  Sinclair, Buck, etc. Harper’s, Scribner’s & Atlantic Monthly were the forefathers of Time, Newsweek, & US News & World Report

Periods in Journalism in US  Electronic Journalism 1920’s-1940’s: Radio is king  Appealed to all ages in family  Politicians could speak directly to constituents from any location  Necessity by stations to include some speeches and ignore others  FDR’s “fireside chats” during WWII made Americans feel informed and up-to-date on world events“fireside chats”

Radio is King

Periods in Journalism in US  Electronic Journalism 1950’s-1990’s: Rise of Television  Telegenic candidates often win (Debates)  Until 1990’s the “Big Three” were main sources of information for 80% of Americans  News stories have been replaced by “sound bites” of less than 8 seconds  CNN and other cable outlets led to the decline of Big Three  News events are preferred over news stories

Periods in Journalism in US  Electronic Journalism 2000’s to present—Emergence of Internet  72% of all American homes have Internet access (2011 Census Bureau)  Information overload—consumer selects sources by choice & accident  Social networking sites are the newest way to reach thousands with instant information Do example with class survey

Structure of US Media  Newspapers are no longer competitive in most markets  TV station are extremely competitive and usually focused locally, but have national ties AP, UPI Network affiliated  Networks have national focus

Roles of the Media  Gatekeeper - influence what subjects become national political issues, and for how long. AKA as “front burner” issues. EXAMPLE:  Scorekeeper - help make political reputations, court the “Great Mentioner” & decide who the winners & losers are in Washington. Often leads to coverage of presidential elections as horse races. EXAMPLE:  Watchdog - Follow closely the front-runner candidates, searching for “skeletons” in closet. Maintains close eye on all major candidates. EXAMPLE:  Agenda setter - Influence standards by which policies, government, presidents, and candidates are judged. EXAMPLE:

Rules & Regulations  1 st Amendment prevents prior restraint as determined by US Supreme Court Near v. MN, NY Times v. US  Libel is very difficult to prove NY Times v. Sullivan, Sharon v. Time  Shield laws exist in 41 states (including NC) but there is no national protection  FCC controls TV & radio with licensing, but has been largely deregulated due to competition  Equal Time doctrine exists to a limited extent.  NE NC has no real “market” in which to run ads

Presidents & The Media  Why is the coverage of the President so predominant? Court media through use of BULLY PULPIT BULLY PULPIT One person—leader of the “free world” Press secretary handles media

Congress & the Media  Hesitant in allowing coverage  Resented coverage of President  C-SPAN & C-SPAN2 now offer gavel-to-gavel coverage  Committee hearings sometime launch careers, especially in Senate

Why so many leaks?  Separation of powers  Federalism  Adversarial press corps  Sensationalism sells

The Public View of Media  Negative attacks alienate viewers—tune out  Believe press influences elections by biased coverage Liberal bias blasted by Fox News Liberal bias Conservative slant criticized by MSNBC Conservative slant  View media as big business—not to be trusted  Has led politicians to increase negative ads

Self-Constraints on the Media  Alienate sources  Become a “mouthpiece”  Numerous congressional staffers— “A dime a dozen”  Reliance on “canned stories”  Bypass national media for state & local coverage