Post on 17-Aug-2015
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WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1.1. How much power do the media have?How much power do the media have?
2.2. Can we trust the media to be fair?Can we trust the media to be fair? TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. What public policies will the media What public policies will the media support?support?
The Media and PoliticsThe Media and Politics
Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press The United States versus EuropeThe United States versus Europe Freedom of Information ActFreedom of Information Act NewspapersNewspapers Radio and TelevisionRadio and Television Federal Communication Commission Federal Communication Commission
(FCC)(FCC)
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Journalism in American Political Journalism in American Political HistoryHistory
The Party PressThe Party Press The Popular PressThe Popular Press Magazines of OpinionMagazines of Opinion Electronic JournalismElectronic Journalism The InternetThe Internet
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Before television and the Before television and the Internet, news came by Internet, news came by radio, as here in 1939. p. radio, as here in 1939. p. 292 292
Bettmann/Corbis
Blogs, both conservative and Blogs, both conservative and liberal, have become an liberal, have become an important form of political important form of political advertising. p. 289advertising. p. 289
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Powerlineblog.com. Reprinted with permission.
As appeared on www.dailykos.com. Reprinted with permission.
The Structure of the MediaThe Structure of the Media
Degree of CompetitionDegree of Competition The National MediaThe National Media
• GatekeeperGatekeeper• ScorekeeperScorekeeper• WatchdogWatchdog
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Rules Governing the MediaRules Governing the Media Newspapers – least Newspapers – least
governmental regulationgovernmental regulation Radio and TV – most Radio and TV – most
governmental regulationgovernmental regulation Confidentiality of SourcesConfidentiality of Sources Regulating BroadcastingRegulating Broadcasting Campaigning Campaigning
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Activists urge Congress to pass a law shielding reporters from being required to testify about their sources. p. 296
Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo
Are the National Media Biased?Are the National Media Biased?
Do members of the media have a Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude?distinctive political attitude?
Does that attitude affect what they Does that attitude affect what they write or say?write or say?
Does what they write or say affect Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe?what citizens believe?
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Are the National Media Biased?Are the National Media Biased?
A liberal majorityA liberal majority Neutral and Neutral and
objective?objective?• Routine storiesRoutine stories• Feature storiesFeature stories• Insider storiesInsider stories
Media’s influenceMedia’s influence• Selective attentionSelective attention
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Spanish-speaking voters have become so important that candidates, such as Hillary Clinton, run Spanish web sites. p. 299
Hillaryclinton.com
Figure 12.2 Public Perception of Figure 12.2 Public Perception of Accuracy in the MediaAccuracy in the Media
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Source: Pew Research Center, “The People and the Press” (August 2007).
Government and the NewsGovernment and the News
Prominence of the presidentProminence of the president Coverage of CongressCoverage of Congress Why do we have so many news Why do we have so many news
leaks?leaks? Sensationalism in the MediaSensationalism in the Media Government constraints on Government constraints on
journalistsjournalists
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When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304
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Brown Brothers
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Today, there are huge gatherings held in a special conference room, as on the right. p. 305
In 1933, White House press In 1933, White House press conferences were informal conferences were informal affairs, as when reporters affairs, as when reporters gathered around Franklin gathered around Franklin Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Office.Office.
Bettmann/Corbis
JASON REED/Reuters/Landov
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p. 306p. 306©1991 Dana Fradon/The New Yorker Collection from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved.
M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M
To: To: Matthew Wilson, senatorMatthew Wilson, senator
From: From: Margaret Drinker, legislative assistantMargaret Drinker, legislative assistant
Subject: Subject: Protecting JournalistsProtecting Journalists
The Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporterThe Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporter
to testify does not violate the First Amendment to theto testify does not violate the First Amendment to the
Constitution. But Congress could pass a law, similarConstitution. But Congress could pass a law, similar
to that in many states, banning such testimony if itto that in many states, banning such testimony if it
reveals a confidential source.reveals a confidential source.
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Arguments for:Arguments for:
1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one 1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one proposed by Congress.proposed by Congress.
2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being 2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being identified; without protection, a lot of important stories identified; without protection, a lot of important stories would not be written.would not be written.
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know 1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know all of the evidence against him or her and to confront all of the evidence against him or her and to confront witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right.witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right.
2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak 2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak secret information with no fear of being detected.secret information with no fear of being detected.
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?