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The Mass Media and the Political Agenda

This chapter provides an introduction to the role of the mass media in shaping the political agenda. It covers important definitions, the development of media politics, government regulation of the broadcast media, reporting the news, bias in the news, and the media's agenda-setting function.

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The Mass Media and the Political Agenda

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  1. The Mass Media and the Political Agenda Chapter 7

  2. IntroductionSome important definitions: • Linkage Institution • The media links citizens with government, along with political parties, interest groups, and elections. • Mass Media: • Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and other means of popular communication. • High-tech politics: • A politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technology and mass media.

  3. Importance of the Mass Media Today • Media Event- Events purposely staged for the media that look spontaneous. • 60% of campaign spending is for T.V. ads • 2/3 of those ads are negative

  4. The Development of Media Politics Investigative journalism • -Use of in-depth reporting to unearth scandals, scams and schemes • Watergate is an example • -Contributes to a negative view of government and politics • The media serves as a watchdog, which may restrain government

  5. The Development of Media Politics • The Print Media • As it grew, the companies were consolidated into chains • A few corporations control most of the visual and print media • This is called media consolidation

  6. Print Media-(newspapers and magazines) • Pecking Order • New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, Chicago Tribune • Smaller papers reprint the big stories • TV and the internet are causing newspaper sales to decline

  7. The Development of Media Politics • The Broadcast Media • Television (not cable or satellite) and radio • Brought government and politics into people’s homes • Made the politicians more aware of their appearance • Generally the top source of news for most Americans, and most believable

  8. The Development of Media Politics • Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)-no media involvement in politics • Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-1945)- invented modern media politics/Fireside Chats • Gave press conferences twice a week • First to use the radio extensively • Press respected FDR • Until the 1960s the press respected the government • Didn’t report private lives • Impact of Vietnam War and Watergate Scandal • Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal • Investigative Journalism

  9. Government Regulation of the Broadcast Media • 1934: Federal Communications Commission was created • Prevents Monopolies • Conducts exams over goals and performance • Stations must benefit society to get a license • Fair treatment rules provide equal airtime to both candidates

  10. Narrowcasting: Cable TV & Internet • Narrowcasting- media programming on cable TV or Internet focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience • MTV, ESPN, the Food Network

  11. Reporting the News • Presenting the News • Most news coverage is superficial • Sound Bites: Short video clips of approximately 15 seconds or less. Figure 7.2

  12. Reporting the News • Bias in the News • Some outlets are ideologically biased to the right or left • Structural bias occurs when stories are chosen to attract the largest audience. • “If it bleeds, it leads.”

  13. Reporting the News . • Media is in search of unusual stories that will excite, rather than the sophisticated story.

  14. Finding the News • Beat- Specific locations from which news emanates, such as Congress or the White House. • Trial Balloons- An intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reaction.

  15. News About the News (4:26) • http://www.ted.com/talks/alisa_miller_shares_the_news_about_the_news.html

  16. The News and Public Opinion • Television news can affect what people think is important. • Some policies can be made more important, others less important, depending on coverage.

  17. The Media’s Agenda-Setting Function • Policy Agenda: • The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and others in policymaking • Policy Entrepreneurs: • People who invest their political “capital” in an issue.

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