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Chapter 8. “The News Media”. Key Point #1. The current media landscape is planned chaos…. The Media Landscape. Where you get your news matters CNN or MSNBC: likely identify as a Democrat Fox News or Talk Radio: likely identify as a Republican
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Chapter 8 “The News Media”
Key Point #1 The current media landscape is planned chaos….
The Media Landscape • Where you get your news matters • CNN or MSNBC: likely identify as a Democrat • Fox News or Talk Radio: likely identify as a Republican • Before the internet and cable 3 stations dominated the news, now there are more choices • The news media has changed because of consolidation and new media
Media Ownership & Consolidation • Media Ownership & Consolidation • The government owns very few of the media outlets in the United States • More state and local agencies are using the media to convey their message • Private businesses own most of the media outlets in the United States • Print Media (Newspapers & Magazines) • Broadcast Media (Television & Radio) • The chain of ownership has caused major news outlets to all cover the same story in exactly the same form • As a result, news outlets from around the country focus on the same national stories each day, often told from the same perspective
The Rise of New Media • Many mainstream media outlets have been in decline (in terms of circulation and ratings) • Magazines & Newspapers have been hit especially hard • New Media: alternative media sources such as the internet, cable television and satellite radio. • Changed the way that candidates campaign and engage in the business of politics • Created the 24-hour news cycle
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) • The FCC and the Broadcast Media • Congress created the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1939 to regulate media using public airwaves. • In the past few decades, the FCC loosened its regulations on political broadcasting, but recently it has become more aggressive in monitoring indecency in the realm of entertainment. • Fairness Doctrine: FCC regulation requiring broadcasters to present issues in a balanced manner; repealed in 1987
Reporters & Confidential Sources • Journalists constantly base their stories on confidential information • They rely on these sources and so they feel an obligation to protect them • Shield Law: a law that protects journalists from being forced to disclose confidential information in a legal proceeding
Key Point #2 Individuals & the government try to influence their media perceptions….
“The Spin Room” • Campaign organizations are constantly trying to influence the way that the media views and thus depicts their particular candidate • Usually based on a few simple ideas • Choose a single theme to emphasize on that day • Eye catching visual backdrop that reemphasizes the theme • Stick to the campaign script • Sound Bites
Media Bias • Objective journalism: style of news reporting that focuses on facts. • Most Americans believe the media are biased. • Media sources tend to cover Democratic candidates for president • more favorably than their Republican opponents in recent elections and treat challengers better than incumbents.
Key Point #3 The Media plays a key role in how we think about the world….
The Media & Public Policymaking • Signaling Role • A term that refers to the accepted responsibility of the media to alert the public to important developments as they happen. • Framing • The process by which a communication source, such as a news organization, defines and constructs a political issue or public controversy