Media. Media Functions 90% of Americans receive information from TV Entertainment-some TV has made...

Media

Media Functions

90% of Americans receive information from TV

Entertainment-some TV has made political issues-AIDS, incest, spousal abuse

Media Functions

Reporting the News-most important function of all mass media

Media Functions

Identifying public problems-determines what the government ought to do

Public agenda-issues that are perceived by member of the political community as meriting public attention and government action

Media Functions

Socializing new generations-instruct people on the historical values of the society

Providing a political forum-use the media to sustain interest in campaigns

Make money

History of the media

Media was difficult at 1st because of the lack of technology

3000 newspapers in 1860-concentrated on crimes and scandals

Mass Readership

Inventions led to mass readership High speed rotary press telegraph

Popular press/Yellow Journalism

At the turn of the century publishers allowed editors to engage in yellow journalism-sensational, irresponsible journalism

A person personal activities became front page news

Still around today The Star National Enquirer

The Age of the Electromagnetic signal

Nov. 2, 1920-KDKA Pittsburgh had the 1st radio program that featured political returns

By 1924 there were 1,400 radio stations

NBC radio started on Nov. 15, 1926-network broadcasting became a reality

Revolution of the Electronic Media

The advent of pay TV/Cable TV/Subscription TV/ Satellite TV and the internet have completely changed the electronic landscape

Narrowcasting-broadcasting targeted to 1 small sector of the population

Electronic Media

Between 1982-1997-network TV viewership dropped from 72% to 53%

Internet grew from 0% to 40% during the same period

Talk Show politics

In 1997 there were 24 national TV talk shows

1998-2000 Talk radio programs

TV

TV is the most influential medium

1963-11 minutes dedicated to news

1998-3 hours dedicated to news

CNN became the 1st all news 24 hr TV network

TV

TV is attractive because it relies on pictures rather than words

TV is satisfied with the sound bite-several second comment selected or crafted for its immediate impact on the viewer

Media and Political Campaigns

All forms of the media have an impact on American society

3 types of TV coverage in campaigns

Advertising Management of the news coverage

Spin-an interpretation of campaign events or election results that is most favorable to the candidates campaign strategy

Spin doctor-political advisor who tries to convince journalists of the truth of particular interpretations of events

3 types

Debates

Media and the Government

Because the president is so important there is a White House Press Corp-group of reporters that follow the every move of the president

Press Secretary

Press secretary-person responsible for representing the White House before the media

Press and public agenda

The media plays an important role in setting public agenda

The media help determine to a significant extent the policy issues that need attention

FCC

FCC-regulates communication by radio, television, wire and cable

The # of radio stations has been controlled for many years

Media controlling themselves

The National Association of Broadcasters put together a code of ethics and conduct Calling an election

Citizens and media

Citizens have the right to media access

Bias

The media is to report the news/events and keep bias out of the broadcast