1. SWBT : identify and explain how citizens get their news - Explain the relationship between media & politics December 3, 2014

2. In this chapter we will learn about The sources of our news The historical development of the ownership of the American media and its implications for the political news we get The role of journalists The link between the media and politics The relationship of citizens to the media

3. Where do we get our news? Newspapers and magazines –Readership is on the decline –Fewer newspapers than in many industrialized countries –Only 7% of people read a national paper, but 44% read local papers Radio –Made news more up-to-the minute and personal

4. Where do we get our news?, cont. Television –Dramatically changed the way people received their news –Led to narrowcasting –Has increased the importance of image –51% of Americans watch local news; 39% watch cable news; 36% watch network news

5. Where do we get our news?, cont. The Internet –Revolutionizing the way we get our news –20% report getting their political news from the Internet; this percentage is rising –Blogs –More interactive than other media –Many Americans getting news from social media: Facebook, Twitter

6. The early American press Extremely partisan Lacked independence because they were dependent on parties for funding Jacksonian revolution led to appeals to mass audiences rather than elites

7. Growing media independence Larger audiences leads to more advertising, which leads to content that will not offend anyone so as to increase audience The penny press (1833): cheap papers led to more superficial content designed to appeal to mass audiences Yellow journalism: after Civil War; appeal to mass audience led to sensational reporting

9. SWBAT: Identify and examine the roles of the media December 4, 2014

10. The media today: concentrated corporate power Consequences of corporate ownership –Commercial bias: the tendency to make coverage and programming decisions based on what will attract a large audience and maximize profits –Reduced emphasis on political news –Infotainment: the effort to make the delivery of information more attractive by dressing it up as entertainment –Conflicts of interest

11. Alternatives to corporate media Public radio and television (e.g., NPR) Alternative press (e.g., Village Voice) Ideological magazines (e.g., Nation) Internet – citizen journalism

12. Regulation of broadcast media The equal time rule: The fairness doctrine: The right of rebuttal: The Telecommunications Act of 1996:

13. Roles of journalists Gatekeeper Scorekeeper Watchdog Disseminators Public mobilizers

14. A liberal media bias? Characteristics of journalists –Ideology –Party identification –Age –Gender –Ethnic origin –Religion

15. The growth of the Washington press corps The revolving door: the tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector (media, lobbying) jobs The rise of the pundit: a professional observer and commentator on politics

16. SWBAT: -explain how media shapes public opinion -discuss and examine examples of this role

17. The shaping of public opinion by the media Agenda setting: Priming: Framing: Persuasion by professional communicators:

18. The portrayal of politics as conflict and image Horse-race journalism: Emphasis on image: Scandal watching: Growing negativism, increased cynicism:

19. Consequences of the emphasis on conflict and image An increase in citizen disaffection with politics An increase in cynicism about politics and the media New forms of media replacing older ones

20. News management techniques Tight control of information Tight control of access to the politician Elaborate communications bureaucracy

21. News management techniques, cont’d. Concerted effort to bypass the White House press corps Prepackaging the news in sound bites Leaks

22. The citizens and the media The new media Civic journalism aka citizen journalism