1. Chapter Twelve
The Media

2. The Media Old Media: books, essays, pamphlets, newspapers, magazines
New Media: newspapers, television, radio, World Wide Web
Most people’s knowledge of politics comes from the media, especially the Internet
Laws and understandings in the U.S. give the media substantial freedom
There is a long tradition of private media ownership in U.S.

3. Journalism in American Political History (4 Stages)
The Party Press:
Various factions/parties created, sponsored, and controlled newspapers to further their interests.
Circulated among political/social elites
Examples: National Gazette, National Intelligencer, Washington Globe

4. Journalism in American Political History (4 Stages)
The Popular Press:
Changes in society and technology made possible self-supporting, mass readership daily newspapers
Creation of Associated Press (AP) in 1848 to transmit similar stories across the nation
Creation of the Government Printing Office (GPO) in 1860
Use of sensationalism in news stories-known as “yellow journalism”; made popular by William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

5. Journalism in American Political History (4 Stages)
Magazines of Opinion:
Dislike of “yellow journalism” led to era of reform led by “muckrakers” like Ida Tarbell, Lincoln Steffens, Upton Sinclair, etc.
Various national magazines emerged to fulfill people’s interests.
Examples: Atlantic Monthly, Harper’s Weekly, Cosmopolitan

6. Journalism in American Political History (4 Stages)
Electronic Journalism:
Radio arrives in 1920s, television in the late 1940s
Represented a change in how news was gathered and disseminated
Politicians gradually realized the importance

7. Electronic Journalism and the Internet
Shorter sound bites on the nightly news make it more difficult for candidates and officeholders to convey their message
seconds; seconds
Politicians now have more sources—cable, early-morning news, news magazine shows
40% of American households access the Internet
Internet is the ultimate free market in political news and many trust it for all information

8. Table 12.1: Decline in Viewership of the Television Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC are the “Big Three” Networks)
Insert table 12.1 (formerly table 10.1 in 9e)

9. Figure 12.1: Percentage of Newspaper Readers Ages 18–34

10. Newspapers Number of daily newspapers has declined significantly
Number of cities with multiple papers has declined
Subscription rates have fallen as most people get their news from television and/or the Internet

11. Role of the National Press
Gatekeeper: influences what subjects become national political issues and for how long
Scorekeeper: tracks political reputations and candidates
Watchdog: investigates personalities and exposes scandals
See pgs

12. Rules Governing the Media
Ironically, the least competitive media-newspapers-are the least regulated while the most competitive media-radio and television-must have gov’t licensing and obey gov’t regulations
The First Amendment has been interpreted to mean that no gov’t can place “prior restraint” or censorship on the press except under narrowly defined circumstances

13. Rules Governing the Media
After publication, newspapers or magazines may be sued for libel, obscenity, and/or incitement to commit an illegal act
The Supreme Court allows the government to compel reporters to divulge information in court if it bears on a crime
Radio and television broadcasts are licensed and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
Licenses are renewed every 7 years for radio and every 5 years for television

14. The Media and Campaigns
Equal access for all candidates under the equal time rule
Rates no higher than the cheapest commercial rate
Now stations and networks can sponsor debates limited to major candidates

15. Landmark Cases The Rights of the Media
Near v. Minnesota (1931)-freedom of press applies to state gov’ts, so that they cannot impose prior restraint on newspapers.
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)-public officials may not win a libel suit unless they can prove that the statement was made knowing it would be false or with reckless disregard of its truth.
Miami Herald v. Tornillo (1974)-a newspaper cannot be required to give someone a right to reply to one of its stories.

16. Media Bias See pgs !
Members of the national media are generally more liberal than the average citizen
Conservative media outlets have become more visible in recent years
Talk radio is predominantly conservative
Journalistic philosophy is that the news should be neutral and objective

17. Influence on the Public
Selective attention: people remember or believe only what they want to
Newspapers that endorsed incumbents gave them more positive coverage, and voters had more positive feelings about them
Press coverage affects policy issues that people think are important

18. Figure 12.2: Public Perception of Accuracy in the Media

19. Coverage of Government
The president receives the most coverage
Gavel-to-gavel coverage of House proceedings since 1979 and Senate sessions since 1986 (C-SPAN)
Senatorial use of televised committee hearings has turned the Senate into a presidential candidate incubator

20. The Adversarial Press
Adversarial press since Vietnam, Watergate, Iran-contra
Cynicism created era of attack journalism
Adversarial media has made negative campaign advertising more socially acceptable

21. Sensationalism
Intense competition among many media outlets means that each has a small share of the audience
Sensationalism draws an audience and is cheaper than investigative reporting
Reporters may not be checking sources carefully because there is such competition for stories

22. Government Constraints on the Media
Reporters must strike a balance between expressing critical views and maintaining sources
Governmental tools to fight back: numerous press officers, press releases, leaks, bypass the national press in favor of local media, presidential rewards and punishments