Dr. Kristen LandrevilleMon. 9/27/10

The relationship between (1) business, profit-making, and production and (2) government, laws, and politics.

Focus of Ch. 7: History of market-based news Virtues and vices of market-based news Effects of market-based news

Proliferation of Mega-Media 1984: 50 media corporations 1992: 23 1997: 10 Today: 5

http://www.freepress.net/ownership/chart/main

Most of 20th Century News as the “loss” Entertainment and sports as the “gains”

FCC Rules Airwaves free News media is for-profit Must have public responsibility to quality news

1980s-1990s Deregulation Freedom of speech vs. Freedom of the market

Syn-ergos (Greek) = Working together Non-media companies now own news Companies own the production,

distribution, and marketing News is one piece of profit Cross-promotion Recycle content

News-for-profit and mega-media has created: Budget cuts, which cause:

Staff reductions International bureau closings Investigative reporting near non-existent Reliance on officials Reliance on punditry

“Consumer”-based journalism, which causes: Less exposure to complex political issues Less demand for political news More “news you can use” Infotainment bias

“Finally, the infotainment bias in news exaggerates all of the information biases outlined in Ch. 2, putting the focus on personalities at the center of dramatic conflicts that become mere fragments of larger situations, and thus easier to report in terms of generic plots of authority and disorder.”

Bennett, Ch. 7, p. 219

Nielson Media Research Ratings = Percentage of TV households

tuned into a show relative to total US TV households 111 million TV households 1.1 million per rating point

Super Bowl (40 range) vs. Network News (8 range) Super Bowl = 40 x 1.1 million = 44 million Network News = 8 x 1.1 million = 8.8 million

Fragmented media audience No longer one massive media audience

Results from Mega-Media Programming: Hundreds of options Yet similar news-fare Competitive edge: Slanted programming

Hundreds of options! Growth of cable Growth of magazines

More demographic-based programming People

Teen People In-Style People en Español

1. Less alternative programming2. Corporate news censorship and self-

advertising as news3. Growth of infotainment4. News as a product5. Focus on image and branding

Fewer independently-owned media outlets Fewer locally-owned media outlets Example

Clear Channel owns more 1,200 stations in 50 states!

Dixie Chicks and the Iraq War

Fewer public service commitments C-SPAN declines

Protect business interests Less critical coverage

Examples: Commentary by Bob Costas on China, GE

apology Disney killed story by ABC News on Disney child

predators Promote business interests

Cross-promote Recycle content Time news stories along with movies

Music to influence mood Scare tactics

To garner interest To promote belief

News magazines and reality TV Cheap production High profits

News wholesalers AP Reuters World Television News (part Disney/ABC-

owned) International Television News (ITN)

Same video, different voiceover Embedded reporters Pooling reporters

Packaging, branding, image Journalist and pundit celebrities Sell your program as a family team to trust Example: Creation of Fox News

Already full cable news market Target the anger and frustration Claim objectivity, but clearly right http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/america-live/in

dex.html#/v/4351095/its-the-electorate-stupid/?playlist_id=87651

Match news outlet with owner In a few paragraphs, discuss your

opinions about market-based journalism.

Class Discussion

It’s not malicious, it’s just business.

Fragmentation of media audiences 100s of outlets Smart searches Customization Exposure to your side only Believe opinion to be fact

Format 20 multiple choice (~20 minutes) 2-3 short answer (~10 minutes)

~1 paragraph or ~1-3 sentences 1 essay (~10 minutes)

~2-3 paragraphs or ~10-15 sentences

Clarifications needed on study guide?