Lecture 5 Dynamics of Democracy Ch 6 Public

Lecture 5 Dynamics of Democracy Ch. 6 Public Opinion Ch. 8 The News Media Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Methods for Public Polling Large enough sample Representative of the population Properly worded question Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 A good survey result

Opportunity to learn Capacity to learn Interest in learning Political Knowledge Demographic characteristics Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Social characteristics Psychological characteristics

Education Most important factor in political knowledge Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Attentive Publics People who follow a particular issue closely, are well-informed about it, and have strong opinions on it. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Socialization shapes Values and Opinions Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Socializing Influences • Family • Media • School Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

6 -3 Ideologies Ideology An elaborate set of interrelated beliefs with overarching, abstract principles that make people’s political philosophies coherent. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Liberalism Conservatism • Democracy • Capitalism • Freedom • Government plays expansive role • Government plays a minimal role • Government protects weaker citizens • Government to ensure citizens economic freedom • Government promotes equality Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

6 -3 a Liberalism • Wealthy should pay more taxes to fund government programs • Regulate business • Guarantee minimum levels of social security • Prevent discrimination • Assist poor nations Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

6 -3 b Conservatism • Flatten tax rate for all • Opposed to regulating the way businesses operate • Limit social welfare • Uphold “traditional values” • Favor laws limiting or outlawing abortion • Pursue foreign policy with military force, if necessary Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

6 -3 d Sources of Ideologies Values and abstract ideas Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Real life political situations

Clustering of Opinion Economic Issues relating to the distribution of income and wealth in society Social Issues based on moral or value judgments Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

The News Media Dynamics of Democracy, Ch. 8 Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Difficulty in Determining Media’s Impact • Disentangling the media’s coverage with the event itself • Enormous array of media voices in the United States • Individual choice in media selection Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Selective Perception A phenomenon in which people perceive the same event differently because they have different beliefs and personal experiences. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Selective Exposure and Retention • People consult only trusted sources, newspapers or TV shows reflecting their values • People more easily remember information that agrees with their previous beliefs Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Media Influence The media plays a major role in shaping the political agenda. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Political Agenda The list of issues that people think are important and that government officials are actively debating. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -1 c The News Media and Government The media affects government officials in that government officials often try to influence the media. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Spin Control The practice of trying to persuade journalists to cover news stories in ways that put policies one likes in the most favorable light. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -2 The Changing Face of the News Media • Changes in the conventions of journalism • Changes in the sources from which the public obtains its news • Changes in the pattern of media ownership Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

The Evolution of Journalism Yellow Journalism A form of journalism, popular at the end of the nineteenth century, that emphasized sensational and sometimes lurid news coverage. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

The Evolution of Journalism Muckraking The media’s seeming preoccupation with exposing the unsavory aspects of government. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

The Evolution of Journalism Objective Journalism A form of journalism that developed in the 1920 s and which continues to predominate today. It emphasizes that journalists should strive to keep their opinions out of their coverage of the news. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Broadcast TV V. Television stations that make their programming available over the airwaves without charge. Most local cable companies include broadcast television channels as part of their basic package of services. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006 Cable TV Television programming not originally transmitted over the air, as with broadcast television, but rather carried via coaxial or fiber optic cable into the homes of people who pay a monthly fee.

Number of corporations Consolidation of the News Consolidation of news outlets from 1981 to 1990 Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -3 Freedom of the Press “Our liberty depends on freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost. ” Thomas Jefferson Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -3 Freedom of the Press Freedom of Information Act An act of Congress passed in 1966 that created a system through which anyone can petition the government to declassify secret documents. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -3 Freedom of the Press Federal Communications Commission An independent federal agency that regulates interstate and international communication by radio, television, telephone, telegraph, cable, and satellite. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -3 Freedom of the Press Equal Time Provision A federal law that stipulates that if a radio or television station gives or sells air time to a candidate for political office, it must provide all candidates for public office with access to the airwaves under the same conditions. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

8 -3 Freedom of the Press Fairness Doctrine A regulation the FCC adopted in 1949 and repealed in 1987. It required broadcasters to provide “reasonable opportunities for the expression of opposing views on controversial issues of public importance. ” Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Criteria for Selecting the News • Conflict • Proximity • Timeliness Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Four Rules for Journalists • Keep personal preferences out of the story. • Avoid using obviously value-laden words. • Get both sides of the story. • Rely on “responsible” sources for information. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Six Common Complaints about the Media • They are ideologically biased. • They are excessively cynical. • They increasingly treat news as entertainment. • They do a poor job of covering elections. • They do a poor job of reporting election results. • They complicate the task of governing by reporting stories based on leaks of confidential government information. Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Length of Average Campaign Sound Bite Year Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006

Political Impact of the Internet • Can greatly improve access to information: Google, Wikipedia, government Web sites, CNN • Can also disseminate FALSE or misleading information, scandal • 2004: used effectively by Howard Dean to raise campaign funds • Little “quality control” over bloggers, phony sites: Dole 1996. • Most popular sites are for sports, pornography, celebrities, video poker, medicine – NOT politics • Spur to youth voter turnout? Korea, 2002? Move. On. org? • Digital Divide: access varies by race, class, education, age Copyright Atomic Dog Publishing, 2006