1. Chapter 7- The Media
Objective – Students will be able to answer questions regarding the media.
SECTION
© 2001 by Prentice Hall, Inc.

2. Functions of the Media Entertainment News
American Government
Entertainment
News
Agenda setting – ability of the media to draw public attention to certain issues and to ignore other issues
Political forum – place to make announcements or advertise government

3. Structure of Media Print media – newspaper, magazine, etc.
American Government
Print media – newspaper, magazine, etc.
Oldest, being steadily replaced
Electronic Media – radio, TV
TV now is the primary source of news
Internet – instant information, any time
Replacing print and electronic media
Blogs (short for Web Log)
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

4. Media Conglomerates WHO OWNS THE NEWS??? WHO OWNS INFORMATION?
American Government
WHO OWNS THE NEWS???
WHO OWNS INFORMATION?

5. Media Conglomerates
American Government
Gannet owns USA Today and controls the biggest circulation in the nation + owns 100 additional papers
Rupert Murdoch owns 124 radio stations, New York Post, Weekly Standard, and FOX News

6. Case Study - Viacom Media Conglomerate – Viacom CBS News MTV VH1 BET
American Government
Media Conglomerate – Viacom
CBS News
MTV
VH1
BET
Blockbuster
Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon
DreamWorks
Showtime

7. Government Regulation
American Government
1st Amendment – freedom of press
Gov’t can’t place “prior restraint” on news (can’t censor news before it is released)
The press is not entirely free

8. FCC Federal Communications Commission
American Government
Federal Communications Commission
Controls the media, no one may operate radio or TV stations without their license
Who are they? – 5 members (no more than 3 from the same political party) nominated by US President for 5 years.

9. FCC “Friends”
American Government
Howard Stern
“Man Cow”
Eminem

10. Impact of Media on Politics
American Government
“sound bites” – second long segments
Stories/political messages are shortened, and made to seem less complex than reality

11. Media and Political Campaigns
American Government
Advertising – very expensive on TV, way to reach many voters, raising campaign costs
News coverage – “free” coverage, politicians will attempt to create events where media will attend for free publicity
Spin doctor – one who tries to influence journalists with interpretations of events that are favorable to the candidate
Presidential Debates

12. Media and Gov’t Officials
American Government
White House Press Corp – journalists whose sole job is to follow the President
White House Press Secretary – responsible for addressing the press daily and answer questions for the president.

13. Section Assessment
Compare and contrast the different types of media that exist. Which type do you get most of your information from?
2. Describe the effect the media has on campaigns and politics.

14. Summary: In a paragraph, describe what you have learned today.