The MediaAn Introduction

AP Government

Chapter 12, Theme A

Media Basics Here & Abroad

US press one of the freest in the world: John Peter Zenger case 1st Amendment Strict libel laws Private ownership of media outlets Leaks are commonplace FOIA allows media to force transparency

Types of Media

Print media: magazines, pamphlets, books, and newspapers Declining in importance Many print resources folded or no

longer in print Advertisers have abandoned for

electronic media Almost no regulation

Types of Media

Electronic media: Television, radio, Internet Largest source of information Constantly evolving Radio & TV regulated by FCC Internet lacks any real regulation Internet today allows many sources of

information—pluralist power

Periods in Journalism in USThe Party Press

Expensive & usually exclusive to political elites

Small area of circulation Many newspapers and editors were on

government payroll From founding until mid-1800s

newspapers were overtly partisan

Periods in Journalism in USRise of the Popular Press

Development of high-speed rotary press Telegraph invented— “News in a flash” Urbanization—Mass circulation Creation of Associated Press Profits via advertising, sensationalism &

“yellow journalism” End of government subsidies—GPO

created in 1860 Publishing moguls and their empires

prospered (Hearst, Pulitzer)

Periods in Journalism in US

Magazines of Opinion Driven by reform-minded Progressives Roots of investigative reporting AKA

“Muckrakers”Sinclair, Buck, etc.

Harper’s, Scribner’s & Atlantic Monthly were the forefathers of Time, Newsweek, & US News & World Report

Newspapers:

Even with competition from cable and the internet, 63 million Americans read the paper.

Rise of national papersEXAMPLES: Intense advertising competition60% of cities have competing newspapersCONSEQUENCES (positive and negative)?:

Periods in Journalism in US

Electronic Journalism 1920’s-1940’s: Radio is king

Appealed to all ages in familyPoliticians could speak directly to

constituents from any locationNecessity by stations to include some

speeches and ignore others FDR’s “fireside chats” during WWII made

Americans feel informed and up-to-date on world events

Periods in Journalism in USElectronic Journalism

1950’s-1990’s: Rise of TelevisionTelegenic candidates often win (Debates)Until 1990’s the “Big Three” were main

sources of information for 80% of AmericansNews stories have been replaced by “sound

bites” of less than 8 secondsCNN and other cable outlets led to the decline

of Big ThreeNews events are preferred over news stories

TV News:

Coverage of news has been reduced to 15-45 second sound bites

24 hour, around the clock news coverage “Real time” news reporting Rise of reporting news with ideological agenda EXAMPLES:

Many Americans, particularly young people, getting the news from late night television EXAMPLES:

CONSEQUENCES (positive and negative)?:

Rise of Talk Radio:

9 of 10 Americans listen to radio, especially in their cars

Rise of radio personalitiesEXAMPLES:Emergence of National Public Radio as

legitimate news radio CONSEQUENCES (positive & negative)?

Periods in Journalism in US

Electronic Journalism 2000’s to present—Emergence of Internet

68% of all American homes have Internet access (2009 Census Bureau)

Information overload—consumer selects sources by choice & accident

Social networking sites are the newest way to reach thousands with instant information

Internet

A major source of news and information today According to the Pew Center, currently, 35% of

Americans go online for news at least once a week The online news audience has been younger, male,

better-educated and affluent, and this remains the case. Americans under the age of 50 are twice as likely as those 50 and over to go online for news at least once a week (43%-22%).

CONSEQUENCES (positive and negative)?

Structure of US Media

Newspapers are no longer competitive in most markets

TV station are extremely competitive and usually focused locally, but have national tiesAP, UPINetwork affiliated

Networks have national focus

Intense Competition:

Both print and electronic media under tremendous pressure to be the first to report a story.

CONSEQUENCES (positive and negative)?:

Roles of the Media Gatekeeper - influence what subjects become national

political issues, and for how long. EXAMPLES:The Ebola Scare

Scorekeeper - help make political reputations, court the “Great Mentioner” & decide who winners & losers are in Washington. Often leads to coverage of presidential elections as horse races. EXAMPLES:

Rand Paul

Watchdog - Follow closely the front-runner candidates, searching for “skeletons” in closet. Maintains close eye on all major candidates. EXAMPLES:

Hilary Clinton Out of Touch

Assignment

Read pp. 307-314. Take notes by headings.

Read and complete the CT packet on hard vs. soft news. You cannot do this assignment correctly in one night. It is an assignment that stretches over 3 days.