1. Chapter 6
THE MASS MEDIA

2. The Attack of the Blogs
In early 2005, “off-the-record” comments by CNN chief news executive Eason Jordon were published by a private citizen on an Internet “blog.”
Large news organizations then published the comments, ultimately resulting in Jordan’s resignation from CNN.
The lesson: news organizations can no longer dominate the information that citizens receive.
Is this good or bad for democracy?

3. Roles of the News Media in Democracy
The central idea of democracy is that ordinary citizens should control what their government does.
Yet, this requires that citizens have comprehensive, accurate, and objective information about politics.

4. Specifically, the media should: Act as a watchdog over government
Protected by the First Amendment
A unique protection not found in most other countries
Still, other factors may limit the willingness and ability of the American media to perform this role

5. Specifically, the media should:
Clarify what electoral choices the public has
Present a full and enlightening set of ideas about public policy to the public

6. The Media Landscape Overall: fragmentation
Provides the potential for citizens to gain access to a variety of information

7. Radio Call-in talk shows National Public Radio
Mostly appeal to middle-aged, male conservatives
National Public Radio

8. Television
Most people name television as their most important source of news.
Rise of niche audiences that tune into news outlets that share their pre-existing views.

9. The Internet Remarkable rise in overall use
Significant numbers use Internet to gather information about politics
“blogs”
new mechanism for communication among citizens, and between citizens and government

10. Organization of the Mass Media
Corporate ownership
Increasing concentration of ownership
uniformity and diversity
profit motive
infotainment

11. Political Newsmaking The limited geography of political news
Dependence on official sources
Beats and routines
Leaking
Military actions

12. Political Newsmaking “Newsworthiness” Templates
Episodic foreign coverage

13. Political Newsmaking Interpreting Notion of “objective journalism”
Bias often is hard to detect
Selection of “experts”

14. Is the News Biased?
Observers disagree about whether the media are biased in a liberal or a conservative direction.
Liberal reporters
Not-so-liberal owners and corporations
What constitutes bias?

15. Prevailing Themes in Political News
Nationalism
Approval of the American Economic System
Negativity and Scandal

16. Prevailing Themes in Political News
Infotainment
Pundits
Limited, Fragmented, and Incoherent Political Information

17. Effects of the News Media on Politics
Agenda Setting
Framing and Effects on Policy Preferences
Fueling cynicism

18. Government Regulation of the Media
Government has less legal control over the media in the United States than in most other countries.
Print media
Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
prior restraint
wartime controls

19. Government Regulation of the Media
Electronic media
Government licensing of the airwaves
Radio Act of 1927
Federal Communications Act of 1934
Telecommunications Act of 1996
growing FCC concerns about media decency

20. Government Regulation of the Media
Electronic media
Public service broadcasting
Fairness doctrine
Equal-time provision
The Internet
Lots of debate; little governmental regulation
USA Patriot Act (2001)