The Media Media (the plural of medium). an agency, means, or instrument to disseminate information. defines our shared perceptions of the world, society, and politics. selects what information is directed to us. media presents views of an issue.
influences on media coverage o producers of the news o sources of the news o audience for the news Power and Responsibility of the Media. investigate wrong doing. publicize and explain government action. evaluate programs and politicians.
bring matters to the public attention that might otherwise by hidden by government. reconcile campaign promises with government action. media shapes our perceptions of the government through reporting Media rests upon the First Amendment. ‘Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press.’ o instrumental to a free society o if people are given full information of their affairs they will exercise sound judgment (Jefferson).
American media may openly oppose the government o Near v. Minnesota (1931) extended free press to states SS ‘complexity of government and opportunity for corruption increases the need for a vigilant press’ Organization of the Media. local orientation o learn about what is around us. nationalization of the news o same sets of events, presented in a similar way SS wire services supply local with national and international stories SS cost effective SS every newspaper can not have a media corespondent in Beijing. network news o national program carried by local affiliates o national newspapers (elite papers influence the influential people).
national naga zines (Time, Newsweek, US News) o very similar in coverage o middle of the road. nationalization of media contributed to the nationalization of politics Impact of Private Ownership of Media. profit motivated o attract large, diverse audiences o programming appeals to certain advertisers o subscribers are consumers of advertising Preferences of Mass Media. entertainment.
personalized stories about familiar people. short, simple stories Di states of Public. political stories. repetition Media Regulation. broadcast media is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) o electromagnetic spectrum is publicly owned and it should benefit all.
equal time rule o broadcasters must provide candidates for the same office an equal opportunity to buy commercial time. right of rebuttal – individuals must be given time to respond to personal attacks o Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC SS upheld right of rebuttal SS allowed a liberal author an opportunity to respond to an attack by a conservative SS ‘the views expressed in the program are not necessarily those of the producers of the program’. fairness doctrine o broadcasters were required to air programs with opposing views o made obsolete in 1985 by FCC o diversity of media presented different views Print Media.
no regulation o ‘no prior restraint’. 1931 Near v. Minnesota held that except under the most extraordinary circumstances, the First Amendment prohibits the government from preventing publishers from printing whatever they wish o New York Times v. United States SS Pentagon papers case SS Supreme Court ruled that government can not even block classified documents from being printed o New York Times v.
Sullivan, 1964 SS libel story must be untrue and result from malice or reckless disregard SS newspaper would have to deliberately print false and malicious material in order to be guilty Advertising. media are in business to make money. newspapers lose money on production and distribution, but makes its profit on advertising. television program success is determined by the number of viewers attracted o viewers are targets for advertisers SS controversial ads are refused by media (Bennet on) to protect important advertisers News Coverage – Media Gatekeepers. journalists write for a newspaper versus a reporter who reports the facts o stories are affected by their views, ideals, and interests o story should appeal to the audience Sources of News. influenced by individuals or groups who are subjects of news or whose interests and activities are potential news topics.
media consultants manipulate the image of politicians o determine issues candidate should address o determine where a speech should be given and what the politician will wear SS sad news might require the president to look somber, so he might wear a sweater SS agenda topics require a business look, so a suit will be worn. consumers influence where the news comes from o media must cater to the preferences of consumers o advertisers promote their products in periodicals or newspapers SS can produce a bias in the news SS news starts to cater to consumer interests, regardless of relevance Media and American Politics. content and character of news and programming can have far-reaching political consequences o media disclosures can enhance or destroy the careers of public officials o media can shape and modify public perceptions of events, issues, and institutions Shaping Events. influential in civil rights movement o reported peaceful civil rights marches being attacked by police o created a national sympathy for the movement.
influential in ending the Vietnam War o war was portrayed as misguided and unwin able o turned popular sentiment against the war (positive and negative). media exposed the Watergate Affair Sources of Media Power. agenda setting o groups bring their issues to media to generate support – thus creating an issue. framing o interpret and evaluate events o we don’t read what happened in the newspapers, we read what someone interpreted as happening coverage of elections and government.