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American Government. Ch. 08 Media. “The 4 th Branch of Government”. Functions of the Media. American Government. Entertainment News Agenda setting – ability of the media to draw public attention to certain issues and to ignore other issues
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American Government Ch. 08 Media “The 4th Branch of Government”
Functions of the Media American Government • Entertainment • News • Agenda setting – ability of the media to draw public attention to certain issues and to ignore other issues • Political forum – place to make announcements or advertise government
Structure of Media American Government • Print media – newspaper, magazine, etc. • Oldest, being steadily replaced • Electronic Media – radio, TV • TV now is the primary source of news • Internet – instant information, any time • Replacing print and electronic media • Blogs (short for Web Log) • 527’s – groups that independently raise money and campaign for and against people
Media Conglomerates American Government • WHO OWNS THE NEWS??? • WHO OWNS INFORMATION?
Media Conglomerates American Government • Gannet owns USA Today and controls the biggest circulation in the nation + owns 100 additional papers • Rupert Murdoch owns 124 radio stations, New York Post, Weekly Standard, and FOX News
Case Study - Viacom American Government • Media Conglomerate – Viacom • CBS News • MTV • VH1 • BET • Blockbuster • Paramount Pictures • Nickelodeon • DreamWorks • Showtime
Government Regulation American Government • 1st Amendment – freedom of press • Gov’t can’t place “prior restraint” on news (can’t censor news before it is released) • The press is not entirely free
FCC American Government • Federal Communications Commission • Controls the media, no one may operate radio or TV stations without their license • Who are they? – 5 members (no more than 3 from the same political party) nominated by US President for 5 years.
FCC “Friends” American Government Howard Stern “Man Cow” Eminem
Telecommunications Act of 1996 American Government • Relaxed limitations on media ownership • Own up to 35% of television market • Own unlimited % of radio • Remember Andrew Carnegie and Horizontal Integration???
Impact of Media on Politics American Government • “sound bites” – second long segments • Stories/political messages are shortened, and made to seem less complex than reality
Media and Political Campaigns American Government • Advertising – very expensive on TV, way to reach many voters, raising campaign costs • News coverage – “free” coverage, politicians will attempt to create events where media will attend for free publicity • Spin doctor – one who tries to influence journalists with interpretations of events that are favorable to the candidate • Presidential Debates
Media and Gov’t Officials American Government • White House Press Corp – journalists whose sole job is to follow the President • White House Press Secretary – responsible for addressing the press daily and answer questions for the president • Jay Carney