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Measuring Public Opinion and The Media

This article explores the power of the media, the trustworthiness of media reporting, the influence of media on public policies, and the potential bias of media towards political parties.

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Measuring Public Opinion and The Media

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  1. Measuring Public Opinion and The Media Influencing Politics or just reporting the news?

  2. Questions • How much power do the media have? • Can we trust the media to be fair? • What public policies will the media support? • Do you think the media is biased to one particular political party? Support your answer.

  3. Why Do We Have a bias in a free media Press • The 1st Amendment gives the press the right to publish news, information and opinions without government interference. This also means people have the right to publish their own newspapers, newsletters, magazines, etc.

  4. Journalism in American Political History • American politics has changed with the advance of technology and the explosion of the media • Whether you read the New York Times daily or watch Katie Couric on CBS; the media has a strong influence on what you believe in the world of politics

  5. The Party Press • Early on in America politicians and parties created, sponsored, and controlled newspapers • The papers made their way to the political and commercial elites • Newspapers were expensive • Political parties or the government often paid the bill

  6. Cont. • During the Washington presidency two papers dominated • Gazette of the United States • Led by Alexander Hamilton and the Federalists • National Gazette • Led by Thomas Jefferson and the Republicans • Citizens could choose which paper to buy depending on their political beliefs

  7. The Popular Press • With the advance of technology the Associated Press was born 1848 • The AP could share news coast to coast • Stories had to be brief and of a nonpartisan view so they could be used in papers across the country

  8. Editors and Publisher Dominate • Popular was press was hardly nonpartisan • Publishers and editors were influenced by political sponsors, their own political beliefs and economic interests • Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst were in charge of the newspaper empires in the U.S. • Hearst’s use of the coverage of the USS Maine forced McKinley to follow public opinion and declare war on Spain

  9. Bias becomes the Rule • Yellow Journalism (1898) Spanish American War • Muckraking Journalists (investigative journalists) to help push for Progressive Reforms-influenced Teddy Roosevelt to pass Food and Drug Act and break up monopolies

  10. Electronic Journalism • With radio in the 1920sand T.V. in the 1950s a new era of politics was born • Politicians could now speak directly to voters • FDR’s Fireside Chats • Presidential Address

  11. Up until the 1990s the “big three networks” controlled 80% of all viewers • ABC, CBS, and NBC • Presidential debates and campaigns were only covered by the big three • Candidates now use sound bites on the networks • Video clips or voice of presidential candidates • It has dropped from 42 seconds in 1968 to 7.3 seconds in 2000

  12. Cont. • In the 1990s we had the birth of the cable news networks- Fox News, CNN and MSNBC

  13. The Internet • The Internet became a powerful tool for politicians • Every candidate now has a website • People all over the nation use the Internet to voice their opinions on political matters • Most people get their news now from the internet via their own computers or smartphones

  14. Which News Outlets are Considered Liberal and more favorable (biased) stories to Obama and the Dems? • ABC • NBC • CBS • CNN • MSNBC • The Washington Post • The New York Times • Approx. 90% of the news reporters and journalists voted for Obama and democrats in the last election

  15. Which News Outlets are Considered Conservative and more favorables (biased) stories to Republicans? • Fox News • The Washington Times • The New York Post • Drudge report website/ap

  16. Radio Talk Shows-unashamedly biased • Conservative radio talk shows are highly popular and for some an alternative news source-Michael Savage, Rush Limbaugh, Mark Levin and Sean Hannity are the most popular

  17. Talk radio • Michael Savage-gay marriage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu4tIcttUZ8 • Mark Levin-the president is our boss? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIwPQ4svqjE • Mark Levin-abortion (55 million killed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgwUhUl9I7U

  18. Identify-the media bias-video clips-Liberal or conservative? • Go to class website

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