The influence of government over the media Government

The influence of government over the media

Government officials have a number of ways to influence media content • The media are dependent upon officials for the largest amount of source material • The US government provides a number of subsidies to media companies • The government protects media companies from foreign or domestic attack • Officials woo journalists who are compliant • Officials can withhold information • Officials can censor—especially during wartime

Government subsidies • • • Newspaper delivery rules Third class postal rates Special merger rules Public broadcasting subsidies Spectrum allocation – HDTV bonanza

“According to official sources. . . ” • News organizations depend on official sources for their raw materials and interpretations of events – Must ‘fill in the white space between the ads’ Backgrounding Quotes “Exclusives” White papers

Just being there is 90% of the battle Government controls access • During war, who is in ‘embedded’? – Army control over where they go, who they talk to, what they say, to some extent • Press releases • Press conferences – Who gets called on? – Who isn’t invited back? • Press passes – Official meetings – Air Force One, etc. – What organizations are considered the ‘press’?

President v. Congress • The administration has much greater control over sources of information than Congress does – Official secrets – Loyalty to the president • Hand-picked assistants – Can remove any leak from inner circle – President is ultimate news source • No alternative for journalists to turn to – Physical access of journalists controlled • White House, Pentagon, State, etc. – Modern focus on, fascination with, president • National spokesperson, “nation’s leader”

Career motivation • Journalists get ahead by getting “scoops” and inside information – Government officials can use this to control press behavior • Trial balloons • “off the record” • Use press as a weapon against opposition

Media ownership • Media owners tend to be more conservative than journalists • Media owners are interested in the business climate of the country – “longer range” view • Have at times been called upon to keep a story out of the public eye – National security – Inappropriate – Political favor