The Media

Chapter 12Chapter 12The Media The Media

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

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)


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


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


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


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


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?


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


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


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



p. 303

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


Brown Brothers


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

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.


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.



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.



Your decision:Your decision:

Support Bill?Support Bill?

Oppose Bill?Oppose Bill?



The Media

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