The MediaChapter 12

News Entertainment Agenda setting

◦ Ability of the media to draw public attention to certain issues and to ignore other issues

Political forum ◦ Place to make announcements or advertise

government

Functions of the Media

Print media – newspaper, magazine, etc.◦Oldest, being steadily replaced

Electronic Media – radio, TV◦TV now is the primary source of news

Internet – instant information, any time◦Replacing print and electronic media◦Blogs ◦527’s – groups that independently raise

money and campaign for and against people.

Examples…

Structure of Media

Bias in the News

◦Many people believe the news favors one point of view over another.

◦Generally are not very biased along liberal / conservative lines. But some stations do show political bias.

◦Generally are biased towards what will draw the largest audience.

Reporting the News

The News and Public Opinion Television news can affect what people think

is important. The media influence the criteria by which

the public evaluates political leaders. Some policies can be made more important,

others will be less important, depending on their coverage.

Superficial describes most news coverage to

“Sound bites” – second long segments used to present the news of the day.

Stories/political messages are shortened, and made to seem less complex than reality day.

Presenting the News

Advertising – very expensive on TV, way to reach many voters, raising campaign costs

News coverage – “free” coverage, politicians will attempt to create events where media will attend for free publicity◦ Spin doctor – one who tries to influence journalists

with interpretations of events that are favorable to the candidate

Presidential Debates

Media and Political Campaigns

1. Yellow Journalism 2. Muckrakers 3. Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt4. White House Press Corp – journalists

whose sole job is to follow the President5. White House Press Secretary – responsible

for addressing the press daily and answer questions for the president

Tony Snow and Dana Perino (Bush administration)

Robert Gibbs (Obama Administration)

Media and Gov’t Officials

Media Conglomerates• WHO OWNS THE NEWS??? • WHO OWNS INFORMATION?

• CBS News• MTV• VH1• BET• Blockbuster• Paramount Pictures• Nickelodeon• DreamWorks• Showtime

Rupert Murdoch owns 124 radio

stations, New York Post, Weekly

Standard, and FOX News

Media Conglomerate ~Viacom

• CBS News• MTV• VH1• BET• Blockbuster• Paramount Pictures• Nickelodeon• DreamWorks• Showtime

Finding the NewsBeats: Specific locations from which news frequently emanates, such as Congress or the White House.

Trial Balloons: An intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction.

Reporters and their sources depend on each other – one for stories, the other to get them out

1st Amendment – Freedom of press◦New York Times Co. v. United States

Government can’t place “prior restraint” on news (can’t censor news before it is released)

Can sue for libel and obscenity.The press enjoys a large amount of freedom from government intervention.

Equal-time rules…equal access, but not for debates.

Government Regulation

Controls the media, no one may operate radio or TV stations without their license◦ 7 years for radio◦ 5 years for television◦ Stations must serve “community needs”

Who are they? – 5 members (no more than 3 from the same political party) nominated by US President for 5 years.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Fairness doctrine abolished; has permitted the rise of controversial talk show programs

Telecommunications Act of 1996 Relaxed limitations on media ownership

◦ Own up to 35% of television market◦ Own unlimited % of radio

Movements to Deregulate