AP AP GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

Chapter 10Chapter 10

The MediaThe Media

HISTORY of the MEDIAHISTORY of the MEDIA In the early years, news In the early years, news

traveled slowlytraveled slowlyNewspapers were Newspapers were

politically sponsoredpolitically sponsored““Managed news”Managed news” Is that democratic?Is that democratic?

The high-speed rotary press The high-speed rotary press and telegraph led to mass-and telegraph led to mass-readershipreadership

Associated Press Associated Press (AP) was (AP) was established in 1848established in 1848

Urbanization in the mid Urbanization in the mid 1800’s helped the growth 1800’s helped the growth of newspapersof newspapers

Yellow JournalismYellow JournalismSensationalistic, Sensationalistic, irresponsible news irresponsible news reportingreporting

Spanish-American WarSpanish-American War http://www.pbs.org/crucible/frames/_journalism.htm

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EX. National Enquirer, EX. National Enquirer, The StarThe Star

ELECTROMAGNETIC ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALSIGNAL

Nov 2, 1920 – Presidential Nov 2, 1920 – Presidential race b/t Harding and Cox was race b/t Harding and Cox was transmittedtransmitted

Nov 15, 1926 – NBC Nov 15, 1926 – NBC premieredpremiered

1952 National Convention 1952 National Convention coverage helped Eisenhowercoverage helped Eisenhower

MEDIA FUNCTIONSMEDIA FUNCTIONS

1.1. EntertainmentEntertainment

2.2. Reporting the NewsReporting the News

3.3. Identify Public ProblemsIdentify Public Problems1.1. Examples?Examples?

4.4. Socializing New Socializing New GenerationsGenerations

5.5. Providing a Public ForumProviding a Public Forum

6.6. Making ProfitsMaking Profits

Mass MediaMass Media

Newspapers, magazines, radio, Newspapers, magazines, radio, television, films, recordings, television, films, recordings, books, and electronic books, and electronic communicationscommunications

News Media News Media -the part of mass -the part of mass media that reaches the newsmedia that reaches the news

Ex. Ex. 60 Minutes, Larry King, 60 Minutes, Larry King, Crossfire, 20/20Crossfire, 20/20

TelevisionTelevision

Average person watches 4.3 hours a Average person watches 4.3 hours a day – most influentialday – most influential

Relies on pictures to entertain Relies on pictures to entertain viewersviewers

Everyone uses tv to their advantageEveryone uses tv to their advantage Issue Ads by Interest groupsIssue Ads by Interest groups Around-the-clock news (CNN, Fox)Around-the-clock news (CNN, Fox)

NarrowcastingNarrowcasting – – broadcasting to a small broadcasting to a small sector of the populationsector of the populationDifferent cable Different cable channels – C-SPANchannels – C-SPAN

Network TV’s share of Network TV’s share of viewership has declined viewership has declined to about 55% to about 55%

Three types of TV Three types of TV coverage:coverage:

1.1. Advertising ($$$)Advertising ($$$)2.2. Management of newsManagement of news3.3. Campaign debates Campaign debates

*why are news management *why are news management and debates good types of and debates good types of TV coverage?TV coverage?

Any ad Any ad remembered remembered by the public by the public WORKS!WORKS!

RadioRadio

Continues to reach more Continues to reach more households than tvhouseholds than tv

Talk radioTalk radio Satellite radio picking up Satellite radio picking up

listenerslistenersADVANTAGE is nation-wideADVANTAGE is nation-wide

NewspapersNewspapers

Declining but still reach about Declining but still reach about 56 million Americans56 million Americans

Different papers “specialize” Different papers “specialize” while others deal with while others deal with “general interests”“general interests”

#1 paper by popularity? By #1 paper by popularity? By circulation?circulation?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_newspapers_in_the_United_States_by_circulation

World Wide WebWorld Wide Web

Fastest growing sourceFastest growing source Over 1 billion documents on Over 1 billion documents on

the webthe web Who monitors its’ accuracy Who monitors its’ accuracy

and content?and content?

Changing Role of NewsChanging Role of News In the beginning, news sources In the beginning, news sources

did not last long …why?did not last long …why? They became political They became political

mouthpiecesmouthpieces Jacksonian Era Jacksonian Era - press shifts - press shifts

from elite readers to large from elite readers to large masses. What was the effect?masses. What was the effect?

1900’s—news sources should be 1900’s—news sources should be objective. Is it?objective. Is it?

Media allowed politics to reach Media allowed politics to reach more Americansmore Americans

Fireside chats with FDRFireside chats with FDR Debates (Kennedy v. Nixon)Debates (Kennedy v. Nixon) 24-hour news coverage24-hour news coverage Source of investigation (Source of investigation (The The

Pentagon Papers, WatergatePentagon Papers, Watergate)) Fairness Doctrine (FCC)…no Fairness Doctrine (FCC)…no

longer in place. Good or Bad?longer in place. Good or Bad?

Factors that Limit Media Factors that Limit Media InfluenceInfluence

Political socializationPolitical socialization (family, (family, peers…) allows us to “filter” newspeers…) allows us to “filter” news

Selective attention Selective attention - filter…see - filter…see what we want and disregard the what we want and disregard the restrest

Selective perception Selective perception - filter…- filter…agree with what we want and agree with what we want and refute the restrefute the rest

Recall and comprehension Recall and comprehension - - importance vs. catchy?importance vs. catchy?

National Press: 3 ROLESNational Press: 3 ROLES

Gatekeeper – Gatekeeper – press calls attention to press calls attention to certain issues, the media sets the certain issues, the media sets the subjects that politicians must addresssubjects that politicians must address

ScorekeeperScorekeeper – keeps track of/creates – keeps track of/creates reputation for presidential candidates reputation for presidential candidates (election coverage = horse race)(election coverage = horse race)

WatchdogWatchdog – to investigate – to investigate candidates/political officialscandidates/political officials

Image MakingImage Making

Media creates a politican’s Media creates a politican’s imageimage

Can be good or badCan be good or bad Examples?Examples?

Government RegulationGovernment Regulation

Newspaper – virtually no Newspaper – virtually no regulationregulation

Radio and TV – must have license Radio and TV – must have license and adhere to regulationsand adhere to regulations

No “prior restraints” (Pentagon No “prior restraints” (Pentagon Papers)Papers)

Lawsuits if material is libelous or Lawsuits if material is libelous or obsceneobscene

Radio & TV RegulationsRadio & TV Regulations

Equal Time Rule Equal Time Rule – station must be willing – station must be willing to sell equal time to all candidatesto sell equal time to all candidates

Right-of-Reply Rule Right-of-Reply Rule – If a person is – If a person is attacked on air, then person has a right attacked on air, then person has a right to replyto reply

Political Editorializing Rule Political Editorializing Rule – If a – If a broadcaster endorses a candidate, then broadcaster endorses a candidate, then the other candidate has the right to replythe other candidate has the right to reply

Confidentiality of Confidentiality of SourcesSources

Supreme Court upheld the Supreme Court upheld the right of the govt to compel right of the govt to compel reporters to divulge reporters to divulge information in criminal information in criminal investigationsinvestigations

Types of StoriesTypes of Stories Routine Stories Routine Stories – public events – public events

covered by media (pres takes a trip)covered by media (pres takes a trip) Feature Stories Feature Stories – public events that – public events that

are not usually covered but found are not usually covered but found newsworthy for some reason newsworthy for some reason (controversial court ruling)(controversial court ruling)

Insider Stories Insider Stories – not public – not public information (investigative reporting)information (investigative reporting)

Adversarial PressAdversarial Press

Suspicious of govt and looks to find Suspicious of govt and looks to find corruption, dishonesty, &/or illegal corruption, dishonesty, &/or illegal activitiesactivities

Is it caused by a mistrust of govt?Is it caused by a mistrust of govt? People do not like this type of press so People do not like this type of press so

why does it prevail? why does it prevail? Growing # of people distrust the Growing # of people distrust the

mediamedia Side effect – negative advertisingSide effect – negative advertising