Media and GovernmentMedia and Government

Informing Informing the publicthe public

Mass MediaMass Media• All means of All means of

information information transmissiontransmission

» Historically print media was Historically print media was primary source of news and primary source of news and informationinformation

» Today, 90 percent of Today, 90 percent of Americans get news from TVAmericans get news from TV

» Internet is fastest evolving Internet is fastest evolving source of news and mediasource of news and media

Functions of the Mass MediaFunctions of the Mass Media

1.1. Entertainment Entertainment

2.2. Reporting NewsReporting News

3.3. Identify public problems Identify public problems

4.4. Socializing New GenerationsSocializing New Generations

5.5. Providing a Political ForumProviding a Political Forum

6.6. Making ProfitsMaking Profits

EntertainmentEntertainment• Greatest amount of Greatest amount of

Media hours Media hours • Various political Various political

topicstopics• Affects political Affects political

climateclimate

Reporting NewsReporting News• A primary purpose A primary purpose

of all forms of mediaof all forms of media• Reports on events, Reports on events,

facts, ideas and facts, ideas and people. people.

• 1st Amendment 1st Amendment intended to keep intended to keep public informedpublic informed

Identify public problemsIdentify public problems• Investigative

function (public agenda)

• Means of communicating to the public about issues

• Offers solutions or alternatives to policy problems

• Agenda Setting

Socializing New GenerationsSocializing New Generations• Shaping beliefs and Shaping beliefs and

perceptionsperceptions American historyAmerican history Government Government CultureCulture

• Offers representation Offers representation of Americanism of Americanism Real and fictitious material Real and fictitious material Conforming to mainstream Conforming to mainstream

values values

Providing a Political ForumProviding a Political Forum

• Politicians use to Politicians use to communicate their communicate their beliefs and shape beliefs and shape their imagetheir image

• Pundits promote an Pundits promote an ideology or agenda ideology or agenda

• Public may express Public may express their political beliefstheir political beliefs– Social mediaSocial media

Making ProfitsMaking Profits

• Most media privately ownedMost media privately owned

• Rely on ratings/circulation for Rely on ratings/circulation for revenue from advertisersrevenue from advertisers

• May lead to conflicts of interest May lead to conflicts of interest and questions of journalistic and questions of journalistic integrityintegrity

Media’s effects on politicsMedia’s effects on politics • Message Message

• AdvertisingAdvertising

• ManagementManagement

The MessageThe Message• Newspaper: provides detailed descriptionsNewspaper: provides detailed descriptions

• TV: more superficial/greater impactTV: more superficial/greater impact

• Radio: detail, analysis, interactionRadio: detail, analysis, interaction

• Internet: combines all features, greatest Internet: combines all features, greatest access & growthaccess & growth

AdvertisingAdvertising• Shaping the messageShaping the message

• Greatest impact: attack ads Greatest impact: attack ads

• Advantage to politicians with big moneyAdvantage to politicians with big money

ManagementManagement• Use of talking points and Use of talking points and

press eventspress events• Favors to get better coverageFavors to get better coverage• Spin Spin • Present the very best imagePresent the very best image• Facebook and Twitter allow Facebook and Twitter allow

direct access to publicdirect access to public