Chapter 6: Politics and the Media

1. Chapter 6:Politics and the Media American Government POLS 1101 Instructor: Mr. Mancill

2. Introduction Nobody votes for journalists They are not public officials They do not make laws So why do we pay so much attention to them? The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution guarantees freedom of the press. Americans get information about politics and political ideas from the media.

3. Introduction Mass media�instruments such as newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the Internet that provide the means for communicating with large numbers of people in a short amount of time. The media offers the American people rapid access to large amounts of news about public affairs. The distribution of news and opinion is so important that the press occupies a special place in the constitutional system.

4. The Fifth Branch The press is sometimes called the fifth branch of government after the Congress, President, Supreme Court, and Bureaucracy. The media serves as an additional check on the powers of public officials. Discovery and coverage of news Watergate scandal of the 1970's Dateline, 60 Minutes

5. The Dynamics of an Industry Newspapers Newspapers have been a part of the American culture since early colonial days. News could travel only as fast as the fastest horse Type set by hand Copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Federalists Papers were circulated in newspapers Telegraphy, larger and faster presses, lower costs, and improved literacy made possible the growth of newspapers in the 19th century Penny Press

6. The Dynamics of An Industry Radio and Television 1920 marked the beginning of radio as a mass medium. Within a decade radios were common appliance. Nearly half of all households owned a radio by 1930. Roosevelt's "fire side chats" With the supremacy of radio, and later television, newspaper circulation decreased. Televisions became popular in the 1950's Today, over 98% of American households own at least one television.

7. The Dynamics of an Industry The growth of cable has produced several new networks dedicated to the news. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, CNBC There has also been an increase in the percentage of people getting their news from the Internet and wireless devices. The average American spends 66 minutes a day with some form of news media.

8. The Constitutional Basis of the Press The First Amendment states "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of�the press". The U.S. Supreme Court places almost no restrictions on what editors may publish. "A free press is indispensable to the workings of our democratic society" Justice Felix Frankfurter.

9. Federal Communications Commission Some forms of media are more free than others. Electronic journalism operates under legal restraints that do not apply to print journalism. Radio and TV could be allowed to grow unregulated, like newspapers, or it could be operated by the government. Complete freedom for broadcasters was unacceptable.

10. Federal Communications Commission Congress chose a middle ground of private ownership under government supervision. Regulation of all wired and wireless communication is the responsibility of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC�an agency of the government that regulates the telecommunications industry in the United States.

11. Federal Communications Commission FCC Established in 1934 Airwaves are public property and can be regulated. Requires radio and TV stations to operate "in the public interest". Stations are limited in the amount of commercials that may be broadcasted. Time must be set aside for public service and public affairs programming. Obscenity is prohibited. Certain language is only allowed during certain hours of the day.

12. Equal Time Rule Equal Time Rule�A provision of the Communications Act of 1934 that requires radio and television stations to give or sell equivalent time to one candidate if the station has given or sold time to another candidate for the same office. Time must not only be equal in length, but also must be at a similar time of day.

13. Regulating the Internet The FCC's jurisdiction does not extend to the Internet. The federal government has faced challenges to regulating the Internet. In 1996, Congress passed the Communications Decency Act in an attempt to limit postings of obscene and offensive materials to the web. Parts of this Act were ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

14. Politics and the Press Roles of the media Vehicles of communication Gatekeepers of political knowledge Spotlights on issues Talent scouts in campaigns

15. The Media as Vehicles Radio, television, and the Internet have become vehicles. This makes it possible for a president or other national political leader to speak directly to everyone. Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were comfortable communicating directly with the American people.

16. The Media as Gatekeepers Editors and journalists act as gatekeepers, they decide what the American people will know about. Usually, one day's news is overtaken by the next. Journalists point out shortcomings, corruption, failures, and successes.

17. The Media as Gatekeepers Usually, there are more news stories that are unfavorable than those that are favorable regarding a presidential administration. Especially after the "honeymoon" period.

18. The Media as Spotlights The media acts as a spotlight on important issues. The media helps to identify and define the issues we regard as being important. Example: Prominent coverage of drunk driving may heighten the importance of the issue. Also, in the absence of coverage we may think a problem really isn't serious. The media does not tell people what to think. Rather, the media tells us what to think about.

19. The Media as Talent Scouts Candidates for political office want "good press". Today, voters receive more political information from the media that from parties. Good reporting can help voters understand a candidate's stand on the issues. The media sometimes treats campaigns as "horse races".

20. The Media as Talent Scouts The media talks about the "front-runner", or the serious contenders. When candidates rely on journalists to present their message they often are at the mercy of the journalist's perspective.

21. Are the Media Biased? Most Americans think so. Nearly 48% believe the media is too liberal 15% believe the media is too conservative Spiro T. Agnew "A small group of men�they decide what 40 to 50 million Americans will learn of the day's events�" A reporter's outlook is bound to affect what Americans read and see.

22. Are the Media Biased? Who are the journalists? From small towns, largely in the Midwest Many went to state colleges, not private institutions Majored in journalism or English Many journalists favor liberal candidates They tend to be suspicious of politicians Media mergers have created networks that are owned by megacorporations, leading to more favorable coverage of big business and more conservative coverage.

23. Deciding What Becomes News Thousands of events occur everyday, most of the events go unreported. How does news become news? Agenda Setting- the process by which the news media decides what stories we will hear about. This process can shape Americans' opinion about what is important. Events like natural disasters, elections, revolutions, and invasions become news.

24. Deciding What Becomes News Economics also plays a role. Equipment is expensive to move and set up Circuits for satellite linkages must be reserved Cost v. benefit Most news organizations want to make a profit

25. Deciding How The News Appears Framing- the way in which the media presents a story, consisting of angle, tone, and point of view. Even before the presidential candidates finish their closing comments in a presidential debate, the "spin doctors" provide an analysis of what really happened. Sometimes the media "molds" a story to make it more appealing or entertaining.

26. Deciding How The News Appears The impact of the visual. Reading about an airplane crash is not the same as a videotape of the scene 9/11 News reports often report on what a candidate is doing rather than what they are saying. Rallies, parades, flag-waving, handshaking Television has benefited some candidates more than others. Example-Kennedy and Nixon