Example of Bias in the Press• Amount of Coverage (# or

length)• Type of Coverage (articles vs.

editorials)• Tone & Loaded Language

– Headlines & Text– Downplaying or Exaggerating

Importance• Unbalanced Sources (equal

time? Anonymous?)• Photos & Captions• Omission (of info or coverage)• Other Techniques?

McCain, Obama Spar Over Economic Fix Oct. 8, 2008 http://online.wsj.com/public/us

Media• Sensationalism

– focus on conflict and shocking stories to appeal to viewers (sex, violence, intrigue)

• Soundbites

• Focus on Profit over News?

• Libel Laws pertaining to Public Figures

• Inaccuracy

Media Effects...

• Affects political agenda (which issues the public thinks are important)– less influence over issues personally experienced– Doesn’t necessarily alter views on the issue – no correlation with voting found– affects popularity of Presidents

• How politics conducted– Weakens parties to some extent– Name recognition

Objective

• Examine the issue of media deregulation from more than one perspective

Regulation of the Airwaves by the FCC

• The “Airwaves” are public property. • TV & radio use them for free, but must follow Federal

Communications Commission rules (FCC)• Not cable, internet, magazine, newspapers• Some Rules:

– Public service announcements– Equal Time Rule – must sell airtime to both candidates– Political Editorializing Rule – if endorse one candidate,

opposing candidate has right to reply on that station– Right-of-Reply – if criticize someone, they have right to reply – Fairness Doctrine – must give time to opposing views on

controversial issues (repealed in 1987 by FCC)– Ownership Limits – to prevent media monopolies

Background: Media Regulation

• Since 1930s…• Restrict the number of media

outlets a company could own• e.g. can’t own local tv station &

newspaper in same city; can’t own > 3 tv stations nationwide

• Goals: • Diversity of voices in media• Prevent one company from

having too much control over dissemination of info

Associated Press v. U.S. (1945)• U.S. sues Associated Press for

violating antitrust laws• AP prohibited subscribers from

sharing news with non-subscribers• Supreme Court agreed with U.S.• Rationale: First Amt. protects

people’s right to info, not news company’s right to disseminate info

• Quote: “the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the welfare of the public….a free press is a condition of a free society”

1990s: Trend toward Deregulation• Telecommunications Act of 1996:

– Goal: Increase competition in media– Repealed cap on # tv stations a co. could own– Increased limits on share of national audience from 25% to 35%

• Results: Rapid Media Consolidation: – 1997: Walt Disney and ABC– 1999: Viacom and CBS– 2000: AOL and Time-Warner– 5 conglomerates: Viacom, NBC/General Electric, AOL Time

Warner, Disney, News Corp– Control 80% of viewership in prime time tv, own most cable,

and own radio, publishing, movie studios, music, internet, other businesses

FCC Rules• 1987: FCC abolished “fairness”

doctrine • June 2003: FCC allowed media

companies to own both a tv station and newspaper in same market

• June 2003: FCC raised cap on TV viewership from 35% to 45% of national audience

• July – Sep 2003: Congress votes to keep TV ownership cap at 35%. Bush threatens veto to defend deregulation.

Question: What should happen in the future

with media regulation?

• Come up with constitutional and/or policy arguments

• List FOUR arguments supporting deregulation…

• List FOUR arguments supporting regulation…

Arguments• Deregulation:

• Free Market• First Amendment = no govt.

interference• Competition serves Public

Interest• Greater Diversity today:

more channels & sources• More Resources from large

conglomerates• Government Censorship• Greater Efficiency due to

Economies of Scale• Bias = more viewpoints

• Continued Regulation:• Focus on Profit over Public

Interest• First Amendment = Public

Right to Info• Conglomerates Stifle

Competition• More Channels, but fewer

Viewpoints• Conflict of Interest if news

owned by large conglomerates• Corporate Censorship• Cutting Costs & Investigative

Divisions for Profit• Need for Civility and Unity