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Published byLydia Merritt Modified over 9 years ago
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The Media 2 Roles and Effects
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“Mega media” Recently, media ownership has become increasingly concentrated Emergence of huge media conglomerates ABC part of Disney CNN part of AOL-Time Warner Is it healthy to have concentrated?
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“Mega media” Constriction of diversity? Quality of content: adapting to marketplace- economic cutbacks Becoming entertainment oriented “soft” public affairs programming Prime-time aimed at human interest Public believes journalists are less professional and moral (Dan Rather) Dan Rather was fired from abc for misrepresenting Bush!
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Media Roles: Our media (unlike Britain) has become fairly objective (+) The Signaler Role: (Gatekeeper) alerting the public to important developments as soon as possible Done fairly well, but allows for agenda setting- influencing people’s minds and attitudes (Monica to crime)
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Medias Roles: The Common-Carrier Role: functioning as an open channel where political leaders can communicate with public Importance- knowing to support cand. Leaders battle for coverage: news conf, press releases, stage events White House Press Office: “spin” News becomes journalist-centered! “sound bites” from 45 to 10 seconds!
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Discussion: Where has the sound bite gone and what has replaced it?
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Media Roles: The Watchdog Role: responsibility for protecting the public from incomp. And corrupt officials Ready to expose 1 st Amend. Freedoms Ex: Watergate, Iran-Contra, WMDs Prefer “bad news” and partisan bias?
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Media Roles: Public Representive Role: spokesperson and advocate of the public, a mandate to represent However, journalists are not as well suited as political leaders: not subject to accountability (vote), and representation requires POV. They respond to opportunities, not political interests (i.e. OJ Simpson) Underlying quest for profits
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Media Coverage All candidates feel the media is unfair and try to manipulate it. Reagan was the master at this: controlling access, planning, staying on offensive People have been critical of media’s exit polls Legal restraints: slander, libel, FCC equal time provisions
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Media Coverage 2000 election: pledging to review exit polls Rise of investigative reporting 1974 Freedom of Info. Act & Sunshine laws (factors) Matt Drudge- “Drudge Report”
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The Media and Politics A linkage institution The past: people-> parties-> govt. Now: people-> media-> govt. Contributes to higher cost of campaigning & more candidate centered Parties don’t tell candidates what to say.. media consultants via polls & focus groups do!
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Dangers! “The Electronic Throne” WH manipulation: photo ops. Sound bites Spin control Staged events Who’s really in control here?
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Staged Events: Mission Accomplished
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You stay classy, kids.
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