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The Media 2

The Media 2. Roles and Effects . “ Mega media ”. Recently, media ownership has become increasingly concentrated Emergence of huge media conglomerates ABC part of Disney CNN part of AOL-Time Warner Is it healthy to have concentrated?. “ Mega media ”. Constriction of diversity?

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The Media 2

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  1. The Media 2 Roles and Effects

  2. “Mega media” • Recently, media ownership has become increasingly concentrated • Emergence of huge media conglomerates • ABC part of Disney • CNN part of AOL-Time Warner • Is it healthy to have concentrated?

  3. “Mega media” • Constriction of diversity? • Quality of content: adapting to marketplace- economic cutbacks • Becoming entertainment oriented • “soft” public affairs programming • Prime-time aimed at human interest • Public believes journalists are less professional and moral (Dan Rather) Dan Rather was fired from abc for misrepresenting Bush!

  4. Media Roles: • Our media (unlike Britain) has become fairly objective (+) • The Signaler Role: (Gatekeeper) alerting the public to important developments as soon as possible • Done fairly well, but allows for agenda setting- influencing people’s minds and attitudes (Monica to crime)

  5. Medias Roles: • The Common-Carrier Role: functioning as an open channel where political leaders can communicate with public • Importance- knowing to support cand. • Leaders battle for coverage: news conf, press releases, stage events • White House Press Office: “spin” • News becomes journalist-centered!“soundbites” from 45 to 10 seconds!

  6. Discussion: Where has the sound bite gone and what has replaced it?

  7. Media Roles: • The Watchdog Role: responsibility for protecting the public from incomp. And corrupt officials • Ready to expose • 1st Amend. Freedoms • Ex: Watergate, Iran-Contra, WMDs • Prefer “bad news” and partisan bias?

  8. Media Roles: • Public Representive Role: spokesperson and advocate of the public, a mandate to represent • However, journalists are not as well suited as political leaders: not subject to accountability (vote), and representation requires POV. • They respond to opportunities, not political interests (i.e. OJ Simpson) • Underlying quest for profits

  9. Media Coverage • All candidates feel the media is unfair and try to manipulate it. • Reagan was the master at this: controlling access, planning, staying on offensive • People have been critical of media’s exit polls • Legal restraints: slander, libel, FCC equal time provisions

  10. Media Coverage • 2000 election: pledging to review exit polls • Rise of investigative reporting • 1974 Freedom of Info. Act & Sunshine laws (factors) • Matt Drudge- • “Drudge Report”

  11. The Media and Politics • A linkage institution • The past: people-> parties-> govt. • Now: people-> media-> govt. • Contributes to higher cost of campaigning & more candidate centered • Parties don’t tell candidates what to say.. • media consultants via polls & focus groups do!

  12. Dangers! • “The Electronic Throne” • WH manipulation: • photo ops. • Sound bites • Spin control • Staged events Who’s really in control here?

  13. Staged Events: Mission Accomplished

  14. You stay classy, kids.

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