Chapter 15

The Media

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American Government2006 Edition(to accompany Comprehensive, Alternate, Texas, and Essentials Editions)

O’Connor and Sabato

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The Evolution of Journalism in the United States First newspapers published in the American

colonies in 1690. Free press is a necessary component of

democratic society. Informs the public Provides information they need to choose their

leaders and influence public policy Washington despised the press Partisan press gave way to penny press Penny press focus on scandal

Cleveland v. Blaine scandals in the election 1884

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The Evolution of Journalism in the United States

Yellow journalism Form of newspaper publishing in vogue in the

late-nineteenth century that featured pictures, comics, color, and sensationalized, oversimplified news coverage

Hearst and Pulitzer

Muckrakers Form of journalism, in vogue in the early 20th

century, concerned with reforming government and business conduct

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Landmarks of the American Media

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The U.S. Media Today

Print media: traditional form of mass media, comprising newspapers, magazines, and journals.

Electronic media: the broadcast and cable media, including television, radio, and the Internet.

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Distribution of News Source Usage by Individuals

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Main Source of Campaign News by Party

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The Internet In 2000, 9 percent of Americans claimed to

receive news from the Internet. Today, 13 percent claim to. Major networks and newspapers also offer

their news online. U.S. government provides its own news

online. News available from foreign sources as

well.

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National Influence of the Media Only a handful of media outlets are influential

nationally. New York Times Wall Street Journal USA Today Christian Science Monitor Washington Post Los Angeles Times

They have reach through their own circulation, but also influence what the five major national networks and cable news organizations decide to focus on.

Wire services also nationalize the news News magazines also supplement these other

sources. Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report

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How the Media Cover Politicians And Government Communication between elected officials and public figures

and media Press release: document offering an official comment or

position. Press briefing: relatively restricted session between a press

secretary or aide and the press. Press conference: an unrestricted session between an elected

official and the press. On background: information provided to a journalist that will

not be attributed to a named source. Deep background: information provided to a journalist that will

not be attributed to any source. Off the record: information provided to a journalist that will not

be released to the public. On the record: information provided to a journalism that can be

released and attributed by name to the source.

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Covering the Presidency President is the focus of the most media coverage.

Can summon the press at will FDR was the first to use the press conference as a

means to shape public opinion and explain his actions.

Press Secretary: existed since Hoover’s administration. President’s main disseminator of information to the

press President gets the most coverage, but much of it is

negative G.W. Bush record low number of press conferences

Strategy to control his image

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Presidential Press Conferences

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Covering Congress Size of Congress and its decentralized nature make it

difficult for the media to cover it. Solve this problem by

Giving leaders most attention Key committee chairs command center stage Local newspapers and broadcast stations normally

devote some resources to covering their own representatives

Coverage tends to be negative. Focus on conflict May be part of the reason people view Congress so

negatively Investigative hearings may be televised.

Joseph McCarthy Enron and Worldcom

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Media Coverage of Local Elections

Few independent sources cover local contests Two or three minute story But when they do they can have a great

deal of influence Endorsements from newspapers can

matter

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Investigative Journalism and the Character Issue

Here reporters go beyond headlines and scrutinize public officials and public policy in order to find wrongdoing.

Watergate Woodward and Bernstein

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)

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Media Bias 1980s and 1990s argument that media were liberally biased

because of the sheer number of journalists who leaned to the left.

Another argument focuses on corporate interests and the influence on what is covered.

Recent media bias is intentional and a response to increasing fragmentation and competition among media. Mainstream media losing market share while online, ethnic,

and alternative media are growing. Market position

CNN: 27 percent of Democrats; 20 percent of Republicans Fox News: 29 percent of Republicans; 14 percent of Democrats

Ideological fragmentation is viewed as a negative trend by those who believe that the mass media are essential to providing the facts to educate the public about policies.

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The Media’s Influence on the Public Media effects

The influence of news sources on public opinion Reporting can sway people who are uncommitted and

have no strong opinions. Media have a much greater impact on topics far

removed from the lives and experiences of readers and viewers.

News organizations can help tell us what to think about, even if they cannot determine what we think.

Media’s power to shape citizen’s perceptions can influence a politician’s success. Election Night 2000 Increasing use of experts Group media and narrowcasting

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The News Generation Gap

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The Public’s Perception of the Media Public opinion of media is relatively critical. Perceive media to be

Politically biased Roadblocks to solving problems Inaccurate in their reporting Unwilling to admit mistakes

Most still view the national news media as credible

Terrorist attacks shifted public opinion positively for a period

Value the watchdog role of the news media

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Top Problems Facing Journalism

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Government Regulation of the Electronic Media

Print media are exempt from most forms of government regulation Excludes obscenity

Why? Airwaves used by electronic media are

considered public property and are leased by the federal government to private broadcasters.

Airwaves are limited in supply. Without regulation, they would interfere with each other.

1996 Telecommunications Act

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Content Regulation Government attempts to regulate the

electronic media Equal time rule

Rule that requires broadcast stations to sell air time equally to all candidates in a political campaign if they choose to sell it anyway.

Until 2000, FCC rules required ability to respond to personal attacks or political endorsements by a station. This was found to be unconstitutional.

Fairness Doctrine Rule in effect from 1949 to 1985 requiring

broadcasters to cover events adequately and to present contrasting views on important public issues.

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Efforts to Regulate Media Practices

In the U.S., only government officials can be prosecuted for divulging classified information. No such law exists for journalists. Nor can the government, except under

extremely rare circumstances, impose prior restraints on the press.

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Efforts to Regulate Media Practices Around the World Media context

Dictatorships: media serve as a carefully controlled outlet for “approved” messages from those in charge to those being governed without consent.

Constitutional monarchies: media cooperate with a monarch in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Great Britain: national’s main electronic medium, the BBC, is owned by the country. Subjected to unusually strict regulation on the

publication of governmental secrets. Official Secrets Act of 1911

Makes it a criminal offense to publish any facts, material, or news collected in that person’s capacity as a public minister or civil servant.