Presentation Transcript

1. Robert Parry, “Media Mythology: Is the Press too Liberal?” And Bernard Goldberg, “Bias”

   Chapter 8 – Public opinion

2. The issue: 89% of reporters responding to a survey had voted for Bill Clinton, the analysis was that the media is liberal. Parry in 1997 talks about the nature of the survey and methodological flaws. Investigative journalist who has worked for the Associated Press, Newsweek, and Bloomberg. News executives, not reporters, make the decisions. Bulk of the newspapers were regional dailies, or obscure journals, not mass media. The freedom forum – two analyses
3. Conservative journals did not receive a survey because they are set up as non-profit corporations to receive tax-deductible donations. No credentials for the Congressional Press Gallery, so not on the mailing list. Where are the Conservatives?
4. Bernard Goldberg, 2002, either did not read Parry’s article or did not believe it. Charged language – Castro and Hussein, in your dreams, annoying left-wing moralist, little nut from the Christian group. Portrayal as atheists and “the others”. Bernard Goldberg has written numerous books on the media’s liberal bias. The other side
5. Dual role of the press, present Congressional activity to the public, report public responses to considered legislation back to government officials. This process should be free of ideological considerations. Systems theory Viewers during healthcare summit
6. Healthcare debate Americans have consistently polled in the neighborhood of 80% (since the 1930s) that the government should provide healthcare for those who cannot afford it. Americans are typically happy with the healthcare they receive, but believe the costs are too high. Clinton and Obama were both elected, in large part, by making the cost of healthcare a campaign issue. Message to politicians: make healthcare more affordable. Public opinion as referendum
7. In the 1940s the AMA and unions worked at the grassroots level to make the link of government healthcare programs to socialism. Doctors were concerned with rationing and the setting of prices, unions had healthcare to attract membership. Polling during the reform process
8. Opponents have an easy argument, you cannot get more with less. Reform will result in rationing and lower quality care. The problem is that every other industrialized country has better outcomes with lower costs in a single-payer system. This is achieved by using the monopsony power of a national purchasing pool to keep costs down. If a drug costs $10,000 a year in the US and $1,000 a year in other countries, obviously 9 more people can receive access for the same expenditure. Common sense
9. Opponents go to the press with information, true and untrue regarding what the healthcare policy is. Proponents are still working through the process to determine what it will be, unable to advocate for the policy until they know exactly. The reform process
10. Result: Majority of information put out to the public is negative. The President is not on the bully pulpit, so the opposition takes it over. Remedy: Elect a candidate who has a full plan ready that their party is on board with as a workable plan. The candidate has already campaigned on the plan and gotten public support for it and it should be passed with minimal amendments. Why it failed…twice?
11. A mixed message Public wants lower costs without reduced access, yet cost controls are frequently absent from reform. Insurance and PhRMA will fight cost controls to the last dollar. Feedback from negative advertising indicates unfavorable views from the public on the reform proposal, but public is positive when the specific reforms are discussed. Negative views include those who do not think the plan goes far enough. From results of polling more specific in detail, it would appear that the public is largely underinformed, or worse, misinformed on the issue. Public opinion and the polls Should the member of Congress pay attention to the polls, or use their best judgment to make a determination on how to vote on this issue?
12. Small conflicting groups Many undecided Large number with no interest or opinion Widespread ignorance 2000 – 71% unaward of the budget surplus 1948 – 59% in favor of a fake proposed Act that was made up for the survey. After 3 years of news reports to the contrary, 64% still believed Saddam Hussein had “strong links” to al Qaeda. What public opinion is and isn’t
13. Standing out or having significance. Setting the agenda is the primary source of power Where does salience come from? Real problems affecting many Americans, cost of healthcare, unemployment, real estate markets. salience
14. Media sources – media plays what sells and is cheap to produce, “if it bleeds, it leads”. Local news broadcasts tend to report a lot of crime. Studies have shown that those who live in more affluent, lower crime areas rank crime as a more salient issue. Those who live in lower income, high crime areas rank crime as a less salient issue. Result: many Americans see problems as what they are told is a problem. Also, getting on the bandwagon. salience
15. Political agenda – Political parties have developed a reputation for being better able to address certain issues. This is referred to as “issue ownership”. Whether legitimate or not, Republicans are associated with being better on defense policy, fiscal responsibility, and moral issues. Democrats are associated with being better on education, social security, and healthcare issues. In the campaign, candidates will try to push forward as salient issues, those items in which habit and tradition suggest that they will do better on. Kerry and defense, foreign policy. salience
16. Interest groups– a campaign to either depict or promote a social movement to move an issue to the agenda. Both grassroots and astroturfed organizations fit into this category. The book gives examples of Gandhi and protestors in Selma who represent a minority seeking to bring public attention to their issue. Today, astroturfing organizations have more resources, access, and organization to get their preferred issue on the agenda. salience
17. Social class Education Region Religion Age Gender Ethnic group demographics
18. People not informed about an issue Dim reflection of the opinion pattern within the “attentive public.” Self-fulfilling prophecies as authoritative verdicts. Candidate down in the polls loses donor funding in the primaries. Fair and democratic method of deciding public policies? Who gave the poll and what was their purpose? Public opinion polls and validity
19. Selecting the sample – quotas and randomization Reaching the sample, a balance of resources vs accuracy. US census long form is most reliable. Asking the questions: unbiased wording and question order. 100 surveys asked “Do you feel that the federal government should play a role in the redistribution of wealth?” (67% yes) Another 100 asked, “Do you feel that those who profit proportionally more from government funded infrastructure and institutions should pay proportionally more for their maintenance and improvements?” (86% yes) 19% difference in responses. Polling techniques
20. Most important issue or importance of issue. Goes to salience Polling techniques
21. Independent and dependent. Independent variable is what you believe causesthe change in the dependent variable. Correlation also referred to as positive and negative covariance. Remember, correlation is not causation. variables
22. Presidents lose popularity over time. Campaign on vague issues, but when they start to implement their proposed policies with concrete acts, it invariably offends or angers some voters. Presidential popularity and rally events
23. Social or economic issues. The attentive public – usually wealthier and better educated. Have more of a say because they express an interest and voice an opinion. Polls not only measure public opinion, they can also make it. Liberals and conservatives
24. General public – don’t know, don’t care Attentive public – a go between for political elites and the general public Policy and opinion elite – those who actually make and implement policy. Almond’s three publics