The Mass Media & Politics

How To Read a Newspaper…

http://www.libraries.psu.edu/instruction/minutemodule/index.html

What is the PUBLIC AGENDA?

Issues that politicians & citizens agree need to be addressed.

How does the mass media shape the public agenda?

They determine what people will think and talk about, by what they see & hear.

They have the power to point people’s attention toward a certain issue by emphasizing some things & ignoring others.

What is a MEDIUM?

A means of communication.

What is the “inner ring”?

Major news organizations

Who makes up the “inner ring”?

TV: ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, CNBC

Newspapers: New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal Associated Press, Reuters

Radio: National Public Radio, ABC Radio, CBS Radio, NBC Radio

Magazines: Time, Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, The New Republic (Lib),

The National Review (Rep)

In what way has television & the internet contributed to the decline of political parties?

Allows candidates to go to the voters directly. Helps to create a certain “image” of the

candidate. Propaganda techniques are used in

commercials. Timing, location, lighting, and camera angles.

What are sound bites?

30 to 45 second bits. Snappy reports about exciting things.

FDR: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

Do they truly hurt or help voters?

HELP: Some people do not have the time or attention span to watch long stories about politics.

HURT: Don’t show the whole story; comments and things often are taken out of context. Can give the wrong impression.

How is the media’s influence limited?

Not very many people pay close attention to world, national, or local political events.

Those who do pay attention, tend to be selective; ignoring the sources they disagree with.

Most TV/radio shows do not deal with public affairs; are focused on entertainment.

What are some examples of shows on prime time that are exceptions to this? 60 Minutes Dateline 20/20 Saturday Night Live The Daily Show Colbert Report

On TV/Radio programs, and in the newspaper, who really decides what the public will see, hear, or read?

Editors

Why are newspapers not considered great public affairs relators? Most people are interested in the sports,

comics, weather sections.

Why does the media focus so much on “entertainment” instead of really educating the people about public affairs?

They are out to make a profit! They will air shows that are the least

cost to produce and will yield the highest profit. (i.e. reality shows like Survivor)

Can the media hurt the country?

The Attack Ad

Is the media biased?

Can they influence the way you will vote?

Does the media have a LIBERAL bias?

According to a 2004 study called A Measure of Media Bias by Tim Groseclose of the University of California at Los Angeles and Jeff Milyo of the University of Chicago, the answer is yes, most do.

Looked at voting records of U.S. Senators and Reps. By Americans for Democratic Action.

Median member of the a House member was 39, thus 39 is considered centrist.

Measured the tendency of Senate & House members in their speeches to cite favorably 200 prominent think tanks.

How To Detect Bias in News Media

Consider the following: Who are the sources? Is there a lack of diversity? From whose point of view is the news

reported? Are there double standards? Do sterotypes skew coverage?

Media Bias (cont’d)

What are the unchallenged assumptions?

Is the language loaded? Is there a lack of context? Do the headlines and stories match? Are stories on important issues

featured prominently?