THE MEDIA

Is there a direct relationship between the degree of press freedom and democracy in every country? If so, why?

Who would challenge elected officials if the media were silent?

Is not the media an unplanned part of the American system that helps to preserve democracy? Is it unplanned?

What role do fact-checking sites on the Internet play in keeping candidates and officeholders accountable for claims?

Students will…Describe how American politicians choreograph their messages through the mass media.Outline the key developments in the history of mass media and American politics.List the major criteria that determine which news stories receive the most media attention.Analyze various media to determine their impact on what policy issues Americans think about.Explain how policy entrepreneurs employ media strategies to influence the public agenda.Assess the impact of the mass media on the scope of government and democracy in America.

Where do people get their news?

Mass media includes Print sources Movies Radio Television New Media Internet and Social Networks

Any other means of popular communication

High-Tech Politics: A politics in which

the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology

CHARLTON HESTON

CONTROL THE MESSAGE

Introduction The news media wasn’t always so important. Press Conferences: meetings of public officials

with reporters.▪ Franklin Roosevelt held over 1,000

Investigative Journalism: the use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams & schemes putting reporters & politicians opposite each other.

Coverage of presidential candidates has become less favorable.

The Print Media Newspapers and magazines “Yellow journalism”: a sensational style of

reporting characterized newspapers at the turn of the century.

Newspaper circulation has declined.

Electronic Media Radio, television, and the internet

Yellow Journalism

1898 Political Cartoon againstYellow Journalism

The Broadcast Media Radio and Television Brought government and politics into

peoples’ homes.▪ World War II

Politicians’ appearances and mannerisms more important.▪ Vietnam War▪ Kennedy-Nixon presidential debate

FDR’s fireside chats 1930’s weekly address to the nation

Today AM Talk—conservative dominance▪ Sean Hannity▪ Rush Limbaugh

Liberals: National Public Radio

Network News CBS NBC ABC FOX

Cable News: C-SPAN CNBC and MSNBC

Comedy News: SNL, the Daily Show, the Colbert Report

Government Regulation of the Broadcast Media The Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) regulates the use of airwaves in three ways:▪ Prevent near monopoly control of market▪ Reviews performance of stations▪ Issues fair treatment rules for politicians

From Broadcasting to Narrowcasting: The Rise of Cable News Channels Narrowcasting: media programming on

cable TV or Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience, e.g., C-SPAN, ESPN, MTV, History Channel, MSNBC, Fox News

2/3 of Americans subscribe to Cable TV TV has followed suit with radio and

become largely based on certain ideology

FIGURE 7.1: How the audiences of cable news channels have polarized into rival partisan camps

7.2

The Impact of the Internet Potential to inform Americans about

politics Internet is purposive—people choose

what to learn about Since Americans are generally

disinterested in politics, they will not necessarily use the Internet for political information.

Blogs provide additional information about news stories.

Are politics only a peripheral part of most peoples’ lives?

7.2

Private Control of the Media Only a small number of TV stations are

publicly owned in America. Independent in what they can report,

media are totally dependent on advertising revenues.

Chains: massive media conglomerates that account for over four-fifths of the nation’s daily newspaper circulation▪ Also control broadcast media

Cable TV the Internet Radio Local TV Newspapers

Cable TV the Internet Radio Local TV Newspapers

Consolidation of privately-owned media Top 10 media chains

account for more than 50% of daily circulation

Concerns Market pressures Control of the flow of

information

Ex: Lebron using ESPN and ABC exclusively to announce decision

Press Release: The document

Press Briefing: Restricted access between

Press Secy and Press

Press Conference: Unrestricted access between the official and the press

Defamation (2 kinds) 1. Libel 2. SlanderNew York Times v. Sullivan (1964)

“must prove actual malice if you are a public official, it is not enough to be merely untrue”Freedom of Information Act (“foil”)

Shield Laws (state and federal—or lack thereof)

Prior Restraint

1. persuade uncommitted voters

2. determine what is important by what they report

3. Majority of Americans believe there is a bias

4.Journalists cannot be punished for divulging classified information, only gov’t officials can

Skimming off the cream 10-second sound bites

Short video clips of approximately 10 seconds. Typically, they are all that is shown from a politician’s speech on the nightly television news.

Complex policy issues ignored Politicians can’t present issues Politicians can avoid issues

Presidents rebuffed Shunted to cable

7.3

Bias in the News

Think About It…. What do you think is the biggest bias in

the news today?“If it bleeds, it leads”

Jerry Sandusky 7.3

TABLE 7.2: Stories citizens have tuned in and tuned out

7.3

How influential are the media?

Agenda-setting effects Sets criteria by which public evaluates leaders Emphasizes one event over another Focuses on misstatements

7.4

Policy agenda The issues that attract the serious attention of public

officials and other people actively involved in politics at the time

Many issues compete for attention from government Interest groups, parties, politicians, agencies, all push

their priorities

7.5

Policy entrepreneurs People who invest their political “capital” in an issue.

According to John Kingdon, a policy entrepreneur “could be in or our of government, in elected or appointed positions, in interest groups or research organizations.”

Political activists depend upon the media Protests attract coverage

7.5

Media as watchdog Press criticism does more good than harm Reporters hold negative views of public officials

Media as skeptic Constrains government Focus on injustices enlarges government

7.6

TV furthers individualism No need for intermediaries Candidates can reach individual voters

TV focuses on individuals Personality important Focus on executive branch

7.6

“Information is the fuel of democracy” But more info does not equal more competence

Superficial by demand Profit motive again Public appetite shapes choices

7.6

Media shape public opinion on political issues and influence policy agenda.

Broadcast media have replaced print media over time.

Narrowcasting and the Internet are further shifting media.

Seeking profits, media are biased in favor of stories with high drama.