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The influence of government over the media

The influence of government over the media. Government officials have a number of ways to influence media content. The media are dependent upon officials for the largest amount of source material The US government provides a number of subsidies to media companies

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The influence of government over the media

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  1. The influence of government over the media

  2. Government officials have a number of ways to influence media content • The media are dependent upon officials for the largest amount of source material • The US government provides a number of subsidies to media companies • The government protects media companies from foreign or domestic attack • Officials woo journalists who are compliant • Officials can withhold information • Officials can censor—especially during wartime

  3. Government subsidies • Newspaper delivery rules • Third class postal rates • Special merger rules • Public broadcasting subsidies • Spectrum allocation • HDTV bonanza

  4. “According to official sources . . .” • News organizations depend on official sources for their raw materials and interpretations of events • Must ‘fill in the white space between the ads’ Backgrounding Quotes “Exclusives” White papers

  5. Just being there is 90% of the battleGovernment controls access • During war, who is in ‘embedded’? • Army control over where they go, who they talk to, what they say, to some extent • Press releases • Press conferences • Who gets called on? • Who isn’t invited back? • Press passes • Official meetings • Air Force One, etc. • What organizations are considered the ‘press’?

  6. President v. Congress • The administration has much greater control over sources of information than Congress does • Official secrets • Loyalty to the president • Hand-picked assistants • Can remove any leak from inner circle • President is ultimate news source • No alternative for journalists to turn to • Physical access of journalists controlled • White House, Pentagon, State, etc. • Modern focus on, fascination with, president • National spokesperson, “nation’s leader”

  7. Career motivation • Journalists get ahead by getting “scoops” and inside information • Government officials can use this to control press behavior • Trial balloons • “off the record” • Use press as a weapon against opposition

  8. Media ownership • Media owners tend to be more conservative than journalists • Media owners are interested in the business climate of the country • “longer range” view • Have at times been called upon to keep a story out of the public eye • National security • Inappropriate • Political favor

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