1. Chapter 12 The Media

2. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.How much power do the media have? 2.Can we trust the media to be fair? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1.What public policies will the media support?

3. Journalism in American political history Changing media technology Changing media technology New Media: television, Internet; Old Media: newspapers, magazinesNew Media: television, Internet; Old Media: newspapers, magazines More television viewers than newspaper readersMore television viewers than newspaper readers More people read blog postings vs. magazinesMore people read blog postings vs. magazines Internet is the primary source as news. Only one-third of young people read newspapers (In 2008. young people turned to internet).Internet is the primary source as news. Only one-third of young people read newspapers (In 2008. young people turned to internet). Copyright © 2011 Cengage

4. Europe Vs. USA Strict libel laws in Great Britain Strict libel laws in Great Britain Britain also has the Official Secrets Act - makes it illegal to leak information. Britain also has the Official Secrets Act - makes it illegal to leak information. In Europe, people are imprisoned for publicizing false information In Europe, people are imprisoned for publicizing false information Copyright © 2011 Cengage

5. Private Media Ownership Radio and television stations require Federal Communications Comission licenses. Radio and television stations require Federal Communications Comission licenses. Potential limits to freedom: Potential limits to freedom: Profit driven: may need to distort the news to build an audience or satisfy advertisersProfit driven: may need to distort the news to build an audience or satisfy advertisers Media bias: reporters and editors may present only one side of a storyMedia bias: reporters and editors may present only one side of a story Copyright © 2011 Cengage

6. The Media and Politics Relationship between politicians and the media = adversarial; characterized by mutual mistrust Relationship between politicians and the media = adversarial; characterized by mutual mistrust The media seeks for problems in politics The media seeks for problems in politics Politicians use of internet to appeal to public directly (Opponents do too) Politicians use of internet to appeal to public directly (Opponents do too) The government can exercise very little control over the media. The government can exercise very little control over the media. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

7. Journalism in American Political History The Party Press The Party Press Newspapers circulated among political and commercial elites.Newspapers circulated among political and commercial elites. The Popular Press The Popular Press self-supporting, massself-supporting, mass readership daily newpapers. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Before television and the Internet, news came by radio, as here in 1939. p. 292 Bettmann/Corbis

8. Magazines of Opinion Magazines of Opinion Individual writers gained national followings through investigative reporting.Individual writers gained national followings through investigative reporting. # of competing newspapers declined, reducing the need for sensationalism# of competing newspapers declined, reducing the need for sensationalism Readers = more educated and sophisticated.Readers = more educated and sophisticated. Electronic Journalism Electronic Journalism Radio arrives in 1920s, television in the late 1940sRadio arrives in 1920s, television in the late 1940s Shorter sound bites on the nightly news do not convey messagesShorter sound bites on the nightly news do not convey messages Copyright © 2011 Cengage

9. The Internet The Internet Free from regulations from the FCCFree from regulations from the FCC Every political candidate has a websiteEvery political candidate has a website The Internet has significantly affected politics. It has been used to:The Internet has significantly affected politics. It has been used to: Raise money. Raise money. Organize people to attend meetings. Organize people to attend meetings. Sample public opinion Sample public opinion Air criticism of opponents Air criticism of opponents Target likely supporters to work on campaigns Target likely supporters to work on campaigns Copyright © 2011 Cengage

10. Blogs, both conservative and liberal, have become an important form of political advertising. p. 289 Copyright © 2011 Cengage Powerlineblog.com. Reprinted with permission. As appeared on www.dailykos.com. Reprinted with permission.www.dailykos.com

11. The Structure of the Media Degree of Competition Degree of Competition Declined since 1900sDeclined since 1900s Radio, television, and newspapers are made up locallyRadio, television, and newspapers are made up locally The National Media The National Media Gatekeeper – decides political issuesGatekeeper – decides political issues Scorekeeper – keeps track of winners and losers in politicsScorekeeper – keeps track of winners and losers in politics Watchdog – investigate personalities and expose scandalsWatchdog – investigate personalities and expose scandals Copyright © 2011 Cengage

12. Rules Governing the Media Newspapers – least governmental regulation Newspapers – least governmental regulation Radio and TV – most governmental regulation Radio and TV – most governmental regulation Confidentiality of Sources Confidentiality of Sources Copyright © 2011 Cengage Activists urge Congress to pass a law shielding reporters from being required to testify about their sources. p. 296 Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo

13. Regulating Broadcasting Regulating Broadcasting FCC licensing (7 for radio and 5 for tv)FCC licensing (7 for radio and 5 for tv) Stations must serve “community needs”Stations must serve “community needs” Equal time rule still in effectEqual time rule still in effect Campaigning Campaigning Not all candidates use TV because its efficiency in reaching voters varies.Not all candidates use TV because its efficiency in reaching voters varies. Scholars are concerned about horse- race journalismScholars are concerned about horse- race journalism Copyright © 2011 Cengage

15. Are the National Media Biased? Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude? Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude? Does that attitude affect what they write or say? Does that attitude affect what they write or say? Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe? Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe? Copyright © 2011 Cengage

16. Are the National Media Biased? A liberal majority A liberal majority Neutral and objective? Neutral and objective? Routine storiesRoutine stories Feature storiesFeature stories Insider storiesInsider stories Copyright © 2011 Cengage Spanish-speaking voters have become so important that candidates, such as Hillary Clinton, run Spanish web sites. p. 299 Hillaryclinton.com

17. Does what the media write or say influence how their readers and viewers think? Selective attention - people remember or believe only what they want to. Selective attention - people remember or believe only what they want to. Results of studies examining influence of politics on voting behavior: Results of studies examining influence of politics on voting behavior: Newspapers that endorsed incumbents gave them more positive coverage, and voters had more positive feelings about endorsed incumbents than ones that were not endorsed.Newspapers that endorsed incumbents gave them more positive coverage, and voters had more positive feelings about endorsed incumbents than ones that were not endorsed. FOX News coverage and W ashington PostFOX News coverage and W ashington Post Public’s view of policy questions influenced by media coverage.Public’s view of policy questions influenced by media coverage. Copyright © 2011 Cengage

18. Figure 12.2 Public Perception of Accuracy in the Media Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Pew Research Center, “The People and the Press” (August 2007).

19. Government and the News Prominence of the president Prominence of the president Teddy RooseveltTeddy Roosevelt Franklin Roosevelt: press secretary cultivated, managed, informed the press.Franklin Roosevelt: press secretary cultivated, managed, informed the press. Coverage of Congress Coverage of Congress Never equal to that of president – Members are resentfulNever equal to that of president – Members are resentful C-SPAN in 1986 allowed for coverageC-SPAN in 1986 allowed for coverage Senators use of tv – presidential candidate incubatorSenators use of tv – presidential candidate incubator Copyright © 2011 Cengage

20. Why do we have so many news leaks? Why do we have so many news leaks? Constitution: separation of powersConstitution: separation of powers Power is decentralized Power is decentralized Branches of government compete; press is a weapon in the competition. Branches of government compete; press is a weapon in the competition. Not illegal to print most secrets. Not illegal to print most secrets. Sensationalism in the Media Sensationalism in the Media Government constraints on journalists Government constraints on journalists Copyright © 2011 Cengage

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22. When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304 Copyright © 2011 Cengage Brown Brothers

23. Copyright © 2011 Cengage Today, there are huge gatherings held in a special conference room, as on the right. p. 305 In 1933, White House press conferences were informal affairs, as when reporters gathered around Franklin Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Office. Bettmann/Corbis JASON REED/Reuters/Landov

24. Copyright © 2011 Cengage p. 306 ©1991 Dana Fradon/The New Yorker Collection from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved.