The Impact of Blogs on Democracy

1. Chapter 6 THE MASS MEDIA

2. The Attack of the Blogs • In early 2005, “off-the-record” comments by CNN chief news executive Eason Jordon were published by a private citizen on an Internet “blog.” • Large news organizations then published the comments, ultimately resulting in Jordan’s resignation from CNN. • The lesson: news organizations can no longer dominate the information that citizens receive. • Is this good or bad for democracy?

3. Roles of the News Media in Democracy • The central idea of democracy is that ordinary citizens should control what their government does. • Yet, this requires that citizens have comprehensive, accurate, and objective information about politics.

4. Specifically, the media should: • Act as a watchdogover government • Protected by the First Amendment • A unique protection not found in most other countries • Still, other factors may limit the willingness and ability of the American media to perform this role

5. Specifically, the media should: • Clarify what electoral choices the public has • Present a full and enlightening set of ideas about public policy to the public

6. The Media Landscape • Overall: fragmentation • Provides the potential for citizens to gain access to a variety of information

7. Radio • Call-in talk shows • Mostly appeal to middle-aged, male conservatives • National Public Radio

8. Television • Most people name television as their most important source of news. • Rise of niche audiences that tune into news outlets that share their pre-existing views.

9. The Internet • Remarkable rise in overall use • Significant numbers use Internet to gather information about politics • “blogs” • new mechanism for communication among citizens, and between citizens and government

10. Organization of the Mass Media • Corporate ownership • Increasing concentration of ownership • uniformity and diversity • profit motive • infotainment

11. Political Newsmaking • The limited geography of political news • Dependence on official sources • Beats and routines • Leaking • Military actions

12. Political Newsmaking • “Newsworthiness” • Templates • Episodic foreign coverage

13. Political Newsmaking • Interpreting • Notion of “objective journalism” • Bias often is hard to detect • Selection of “experts”

14. Is the News Biased? • Observers disagree about whether the media are biased in a liberal or a conservative direction. • Liberal reporters • Not-so-liberal owners and corporations • What constitutes bias?

15. Prevailing Themes in Political News • Nationalism • Approval of the American Economic System • Negativity and Scandal

16. Prevailing Themes in Political News • Infotainment • Pundits • Limited, Fragmented, and Incoherent Political Information

17. Effects of the News Media on Politics • Agenda Setting • Framing and Effects on Policy Preferences • Fueling cynicism

18. Government Regulation of the Media • Government has less legal control over the media in the United States than in most other countries. • Print media • Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) • prior restraint • wartime controls

19. Government Regulation of the Media • Electronic media • Government licensing of the airwaves • Radio Act of 1927 • Federal Communications Act of 1934 • Telecommunications Act of 1996 • growing FCC concerns about media decency

20. Government Regulation of the Media • Electronic media • Public service broadcasting • Fairness doctrine • Equal-time provision • The Internet • Lots of debate; little governmental regulation • USA Patriot Act (2001)