1. Regulation of Mass Media

2. How does the government try to control the mass media?
Linkage Institutions
Mass Media
How does the government try to control the mass media?

3. Ownership
Mass Media

4. Mass Media Ownership Private Ownership
Media outlets in the United States are owned by private firms
Many other countries have state owned media outlets
100
This ownership allows more freedom for media outlets in the US, especially in ability to be critical of the government.
Journalists are supposed to be able to work without fear of threats or imprisonment from the government

5. Mass Media Ownership Private Ownership
Media outlets are totally dependent on advertising revenue, which is based mostly on the size of their audiences
Public ownership would allow the media to inform the public without worrying about the size of audience
100
As more large corporations purchase media outlets, those outlets become more profit driven

6. Mass Media Ownership Private Ownership
Media ownership is becoming more concentrated in the hands of large corporations and chains of outlets.
Large corporations that are more profit oriented are more likely to focus on increasing profits
100
This leads to more “cost cutting” in the production of the news – tactics like talking heads in place of produced segments or reports
There is a lot less foreign coverage and reporters dedicated to government beats & more reliance on services like the Associated Press

7. Mass Media Ownership Telecommunications Act of 1996
The goal was to deregulate media ownership to adapt to modern conditions
This reduced limits on the amount of outlets that a person could own.
100
This reduced limits on cross ownership – owning broadcast and cable outlets
This has led to increased concentration of media ownership in fewer hands

8. Mass Media Ownership Telecommunications Act of 1996
Every 2 years, they have to review their ownership rules to see if they are “necessary”
It must repeal any regulation that is no longer in the public interest
100
Over 4000 radio stations nationwide have been bought up
Minority ownership of TV stations has dropped to its lowest point since 1990.

9. Mass Media Ownership Consolidation - advantages
Quality media should win out – what’s popular in one place probably
works in another
There is less government control
100
Larger companies are better able to adapt newer technologies because they can handle the cost
May allow struggling outlets to stay in business longer, as the parent company is better able to handle the losses.

10. Mass Media Ownership Consolidation - disadvantages
Lack of competing views – as all outlets are in fewer hands, we hear a smaller variety of voices
Even more focus on profits than in informing the public
100
Corporate owned media is more loyal to their advertisers
There is less representation of women and minorities
Local reporting is emphasized less than pre-packaged reports

11. Mass Media
Ownership
100

12. Mass Media
Ownership
100

13. FCC Regulation
Mass Media

14. Mass Media Regulation Regulating Media
First amendment guarantees a free press – which does protect journalists
Regulations on public broadcasters are allowed, since they use government infrastructure to broadcast their content.
The courts, the FCC, and the FTC all play a role in regulation of the media

15. Mass Media Regulation Federal Communications Commission
The FCC was set up in 1934 to regulate interstate communications
It regulates broadcast stations for radio and televisions
It has the power to fine or even revoke licenses of stations that do not comply with rules

16. Mass Media FCC Regulation Licenses
The FCC grants licenses to individuals who want TV or radio stations
The licenses are reviewed every 5 years and are almost always renewed
The FCC is supposed to ensure that the media outlet is “serving the public interest”
Also creates the infrastructure for the public to register complaints about broadcasters for what they show

17. Rules now allow a single company to own 45%% of the media in a market.
Mass Media
FCC Regulation
Ownership
The FCC intends to preserve a diversity of viewpoints in each market and ensure that local needs are being met
It also limits ownership of a newspaper and broadcast station in the same market
The FCC has rules limiting the national share of media ownership of broadcast television & radio stations
Rules now allow a single company to own 45%% of the media in a market.

18. Mass Media FCC Regulation Content
The FCC monitors the content of programming on broadcast outlets
This includes restrictions on indecency or obscenity.
It will issues significant fines for broadcasting of material that breaks these guidelines
Fines increased significantly after the Janet Jackson halftime show in which a bare breast was broadcast live on TV and can now go as high as $500,000

19. The FCC set ratings guidelines for all TV programming.
Mass Media
FCC Regulation
Content
The FCC set ratings guidelines for all TV programming.
This was in response to public concerns for increasingly explicit sexual content, violence & profanity
This was implemented along with a V-chip built in to all TVs , but these guidelines have no actual legal force
Using these ratings is voluntary, but every rated program tends to display the rating for a few seconds after every commercial break.

20. Mass Media FCC Regulation Content
Limits profane content including “grossly offensive” language
Limits any portrayal sexual or excretory organs
Limits depictions of drug use or excessive graphic violence
There are stricter guidelines for broadcast TV & radio between 6am & 10om when there’s a chance that children are watching

21. Mass Media FCC Regulation Political Content
The FCC needs to ensure that broadcast networks are not presenting one sided
versions of the news
The Fairness Doctrine was a rule requiring the stations to present controversial issues in a manner that ass balanced.
Broadcasters had to devote some airtime to controversial issues of public interest by airing contrasting viewpoints.
It did not require equal time, but did require the viewpoints be presented.

22. Ronald Reagan ended the policy in 1987
Mass Media
FCC Regulation
Political Content
Ronald Reagan ended the policy in 1987
By then, the number of cable networks was expanding & they were not bound by the same rule
Broadcasters were held to a much higher standard than their cable competitors, so the policy was ended
The demise of this rule is cited as a factor in increasing party polarization

23. Mass Media FCC Regulation Political Content
The equal time provision is still a policy that is enforced on broadcasters
Broadcasters must give equal opportunity to any opposing political candidates who request it.
This mostly applies to the purchase and airing of campaign material, or opportunities to campaign
There are exceptions to this rule, because its impossible to completely enforce

24. This does not apply to candidates shown as part of a documentary
Mass Media
FCC Regulation
Political Content
This does not apply to candidates shown as part of a documentary
If this is an actual interview as part of a news story, they don’t have to go interview all of the candidates
It there’s an actual news event that involves a candidate, the equal time rule does not apply

25. Bigly Ideas
Beliefs & Behaviors

26. Mass Media Wrap Up Impacts of Private Ownership Concentration of Media
FCC Regulations
Focus on these things: