THE MEDIA Mass Media Television radio newspapers magazines

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THE MEDIA

THE MEDIA

 • Mass Media: Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and other means of

• Mass Media: Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and other means of popular communication that reach, and profoundly influence, not only the elites but the masses.

HISTORY OF THE MEDIA • Once upon a time in America… • There was

HISTORY OF THE MEDIA • Once upon a time in America… • There was no: • Internet • Television • Radio • There were newspapers, and they were massively partisan

 • Over time, newspapers became cheaper and easier to operate • Their readership

• Over time, newspapers became cheaper and easier to operate • Their readership expanded and they tried to appeal to more people • Partisanship and bias didn’t go away, but they were subdued

 • Yellow Journalism • Late 1800 s • Pulitzer and Hearst • Sensationalism

• Yellow Journalism • Late 1800 s • Pulitzer and Hearst • Sensationalism (violence, corruption, war and gossip) • Progressive Journalism • Muckrakers • Investigative reporting

 • Then radio happened and television happened • These networks focused on “broadcasting”;

• Then radio happened and television happened • These networks focused on “broadcasting”; trying to reach a large audience through tv and radio signals • Big Three • NBC (National Broadcasting Company) • CBS (Columbia Broadcasting system) • ABC (American Broadcasting Company)

 • These stations brought the government into people’s homes like never before •

• These stations brought the government into people’s homes like never before • Coverage of WWII, Vietnam, Kennedy and MLK assassinations

 • Television news was limited; basically only three places to get tv news

• Television news was limited; basically only three places to get tv news • Then came cable • The rise of 24 hour news networks • Fox • CNN • MSNBC • “narrowcasting”

 • The Internet and social media • Rising in importance • TV is

• The Internet and social media • Rising in importance • TV is shrinking • Ease of access for citizens and politicians • But…most people still get their news from major news outlets, just the online version

COVERAGE OF POLITICIANS • Press Conferences • Press follows political leaders everywhere; president is

COVERAGE OF POLITICIANS • Press Conferences • Press follows political leaders everywhere; president is most scrutinized person in the world • Why do presidents and other leaders allow press access?

MEDIA EVENTS AND PHOTO OPS • Allow politicians to shape their image and push

MEDIA EVENTS AND PHOTO OPS • Allow politicians to shape their image and push their agenda • Free advertising • Sometimes political players send out “trial balloons” • They leak ideas to the press to gauge the public’s reaction

WHAT MESSAGES ARE BEING SENT BY THIS PRESIDENT FROM THE FOLLOWING PHOTO-OPS?

WHAT MESSAGES ARE BEING SENT BY THIS PRESIDENT FROM THE FOLLOWING PHOTO-OPS?

SOUND BITES • In order to keep viewer’s attention, the media often dilute candidates

SOUND BITES • In order to keep viewer’s attention, the media often dilute candidates words into short easily packaged quotes called “sound bites” that stay in voters’ minds • Candidates sometimes emphasize these same segments • Sound bites have gotten shorter with each passing decade

“Make America Great Again. ” DONALD TRUMP

“Make America Great Again. ” DONALD TRUMP

“I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN!”

“I DID NOT HAVE SEX WITH THAT WOMAN!”

“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU…”

“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU…”

“I AM NOT A CROOK!” RICHARD NIXON

“I AM NOT A CROOK!” RICHARD NIXON

“MR. GORBACHEV, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!” RONALD REAGAN

“MR. GORBACHEV, TEAR DOWN THAT WALL!” RONALD REAGAN

MEDIA PLAY THREE SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN AMERICAN POLITICS

MEDIA PLAY THREE SIGNIFICANT ROLES IN AMERICAN POLITICS

 • #1 They are the Gatekeepers • Media decide what stories are “newsworthy”

• #1 They are the Gatekeepers • Media decide what stories are “newsworthy” and so they have a lot of influence over the political agenda

 • #2 They are the Watchdogs • Starting in the 1970 s, largely

• #2 They are the Watchdogs • Starting in the 1970 s, largely due to events like the Vietnam war and Watergate scandal, investigative journalism reached a new high • Reporters saw it as their job to expose government corruption and mismanagement • Adversarial press • Has led Americans to view the government much more negatively

 • #3 They are the Scorekeepers • Who’s up? Who’s down? Who’s winning?

• #3 They are the Scorekeepers • Who’s up? Who’s down? Who’s winning? Who’s losing? • Sometimes called “horserace journalism”

PRESSING QUESTIONS • Are we more informed about politics now or less? • Do

PRESSING QUESTIONS • Are we more informed about politics now or less? • Do people get both sides of the story? • Is the media biased?

ARE WE MORE INFORMED ABOUT POLITICS NOW OR LESS? • Generally less • No

ARE WE MORE INFORMED ABOUT POLITICS NOW OR LESS? • Generally less • No more “incidental exposure”

DO PEOPLE GET BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY? • Kinda • Selective exposure is

DO PEOPLE GET BOTH SIDES OF THE STORY? • Kinda • Selective exposure is real though

IS THE MEDIA BIASED? • Well…many studies have shown that journalists tend to be

IS THE MEDIA BIASED? • Well…many studies have shown that journalists tend to be liberal and favor democrats • Most Americans think the media is biased in favor of liberals • Even Democrats think the media is biased in favor of liberals • However, most studies have not drawn this conclusion • Why not?

 • Media outlets have to appeal to a broad base of advertisers and

• Media outlets have to appeal to a broad base of advertisers and viewers • Most Americans are moderate • Outlets would lose viewers if they were really as partisan as people say

GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF THE MEDIA

GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF THE MEDIA

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS • American press have A LOT of freedom, more than

FREEDOM OF THE PRESS • American press have A LOT of freedom, more than most countries • Libel – printed lies • Slander – spoken lies • Lying is not illegal; but if the lies are used intentionally to defame someone, the injured party may sue

 • Prior Restraint • Government cannot censor something before it is published •

• Prior Restraint • Government cannot censor something before it is published • What if government secrets are leaked to the press? Can these be published? • Near vs. Minnesota • New York Times v. United States (Pentagon Papers)

 • On the record – officials willing to be quoted and named •

• On the record – officials willing to be quoted and named • Off the record – Information cannot be used in any way • On background – Information can be reported, but not attributed to the source by name • On deep background – info can be reported, but there can’t be any type of connection to the source • Anonymous sources • Sometimes “whistleblowers” fear being discovered • Sometimes people won’t talk to journalists unless they are granted anonymity • Is there a problem with “unnamed sources”?

 • What if anonymous sources reveal criminal activity? • Shield laws

• What if anonymous sources reveal criminal activity? • Shield laws

REGULATION OF THE AIRWAVES • FCC – Federal Communications Commission • TV and radio

REGULATION OF THE AIRWAVES • FCC – Federal Communications Commission • TV and radio stations need a license, newspapers do not • Equal time and right of reply • Fairness Doctrine • Doesn’t exist anymore