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The Media

jennelle-hebert
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The Media

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  1. Good afternoon students. James Madison here. Even though some of my fellow Founders and I were not big fans of pure democracy, we did feel that a free press was essential for keeping an eye on government and checking its excesses. One thing that led to our concerns about freedom of the press was the John Peter Zenger case of 1735. The Media Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  2. The Media Zenger Case Tried for libel in New York in 1735 simply for writing against government policies. A local jury acquitted him. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  3. The Media Because of the Zenger case and some other concerns, we incorporated the following words into the United States Constitution in the First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law . . .abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; . . .” We were committed to a free media. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  4. The Media Students, I am the late Walter Cronkite. A democracy ceases to be a democracy if its citizens do not participate in its governance. To participate intelligently, they must know what their government has done, is doing and plans to do in their name. Whenever any hindrance, no matter what its name, is placed in the way of that information, a democracy is weakened, and its future endangered. This is the meaning of freedom of the press. It is not just important to democracy, it is democracy. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  5. The Media Thank you President Madison and Mr. Cronkite. Hello, students. I am conservative commentator, Rush Limbaugh. Colonel Simoncini asked me to discuss the media with you. The news media in the U.S. has become the most powerful influence on people and, therefore, the government. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  6. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Uh, Rush, isn’t it true that some people call the media the “fourth branch of the U.S. government” or the “fourth estate?” That’s true, Jon, because the media has such a great effect on lawmakers, presidents and governors. The problem is that it is a branch that has no constitutional checks or balances.

  7. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media OK then Rush. And isn’t one of the issues about the media that our Constitution guarantees a free press, but not a responsible one? Exactly, Jon. And while some TV, radio and print media reporters are very responsible, some are not and have flat lied in print or on the air.

  8. The Media Janet Cooke, Washington Post, “Jimmy’s World,” 1980-1981 Jayson Blair, New York Times, 36 articles—quotes and details fabricated Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  9. The Media Colonel, I know that Jon and I have several questions you want us to go over with the students. But don’t you want to do something else first? That’s right, Rush. Let’s take a brief look at some significant events in the history of American journalism. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  10. Public Opinion American Journalistic History The Penny Press—newspapers available to all Helped elect William Henry Harrison in 1840 Telegraph—led to the development of the Associated Press Thomas Nast—the first truly crusading journalist Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  11. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion American Journalistic History Yellow Journalism and the Spanish American War (Hearst and Pulitzer) “You provide the pictures, I’ll provide the war.”

  12. The Media Rush, that historical stuff is interesting. But why has the modern media in which you and I both work become so popular and powerful? Real simple, Jon. Television revolutionized politics and American life in general. Heck, TV news people are major personalities—and they have been since the 1960s. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  13. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media From the 1950s: Edward R. Murrow (CBS) From the 1960s-1970s Chet Huntley & David Brinkley (NBC) Walter Cronkite (CBS)

  14. The Media Today: Brian Scott Diane Megyn Williams Pelley Sawyer Kelly NBC CBS ABC CNN Plus many others Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  15. Public Opinion American Journalistic History Today’s major newspapers: New York Times Los Angeles Times Washington Post Wall Street Journal Minority Newspapers Sensationalist newspapers (The National Enquirer) News Magazines Talk radio The Internet Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  16. Public Opinion So Rush, can you give some examples about how American politicians have used the media to their advantage or not used it, to their detriment? Certainly, Jon. I’ll do that on the next page. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  17. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion The first president to effectively use the electronic media was Franklin D. Roosevelt with his Fireside Chats during the Great Depression and World War II. John Kennedy took advantage of his wit, good looks & charm with weekly televised press conferences

  18. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Lyndon Johnson often watched the three dinner hour news broadcasts (NBC, CBS and ABC) at the same time to measure what the people heard and thought.

  19. Public Opinion Ronald Reagan, known as the Great Communicator, used his training as an actor to win over the American people on TV. He also began what has become a tradition among presidents: a weekly, Saturday morning, radio address to the people. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  20. Public Opinion Richard Nixon, however, essentially hated the news media and during the Watergate scandal, many in the media took delight in helping bring down his administration. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  21. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Rush and Jon, that’s a little bit about the history of American Journalism, including how famous politicians have used the media. Now, let’s get into the questions. Thanks, Colonel. All right, students, I would like one of you to tell me how effective you believe the American news media has been in serving as a watchdog over government.

  22. The Media OK, that’s good. How about someone else tell me how effective you believe the American news media has been in clarifying electoral choices. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  23. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Good point, Jon. HRJ is the tendency of media to cover campaigns by emphasizing the relative standings of candidates in polls rather than the issues they decide. Rush, sometimes members of the media can be downright lazy. For example, there is horse-race-journalism.

  24. The Media OK, that’s good, too. Someone else evaluate how the media provides policy information to the people. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  25. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Right now, Simoncini wants you to form into small groups to discuss what EACH of you discovered when you read an online blog. Give the site, the blogger, what the blogger said, and what you thought about it.

  26. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media The most popular medium for news today is television. One reason is the proliferation of TV news channels like CNN, MSNBC, CSPAN and politicaltalk shows on TV and radio, such a my show every day from 9:00 a. m. until 12:00 p.m., and don’t forget prime time news TV, like 60 Minutes.

  27. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Not to mention comedy shows that focus on the news. Yeah, boy!

  28. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media American television consumption today Average adult male: 29 hours/week Average adult female: 34 hours/week U. S. households with at least 1 TV: 99% Average TVs per U. S. household: 2.24 U. S. households with 3 or more TVs: 66%

  29. The Media Between the 1950s and mid-1980s, most Americans (90%) obtained television news from the major networks. Since the mid-1980s, evening news viewership has dropped to about 50% of Americans. Other means now include the Internet and cable news shows Newspapers—many more older people than younger people (difference of 30 percentage points) Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  30. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion So, Rush, I hate to ask this, but are TV and radio now considered the best sources of news in America? No, they aren’t, John. TV and radio may be the most popular forms, but many experts agree that newspapers and news magazines, like Time and Newsweek, provide the most in-depth news reporting.

  31. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media How has the Internet changed American politics? • Candidate home pages • Mobilizing citizens behind a candidate or cause • Fund raising

  32. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media But, remember the Internet has limitations. First, much of the rich and diverse information on the Internet only reaches small and fragmented audiences and usually only has an impact when and to the extent they can attract the attention of the mainstream news media. The most visited hard-news sites are those that are run by traditional media organizations. What seems on the surface to be a fantastic expansion in the amount of political news in reality is an expansion in the number of ways in which the news is distributed.

  33. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Firms that dominate the media Newspapers: Gannett, Newhouse and McClatchy Magazines: Time Warner Television: General Electric, Disney, News Corp., and Viacom

  34. The Media Here I am in uniform to ask why is so much news coverage uniform? Same sources for news Purchases of headlines from a handful of providers AP supplies most of the main national and international stories for newspapers Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  35. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Infotainment Coverage of politics and government has been crowded out by coverage of crime, sports, weather, lifestyles, and other audience-grabbing topics.

  36. Public Opinion • Most coverage: assigned to predictable events long • before they happen • Woodward and Bernstein • articles are rare • Most reporters get their • stories quickly and • efficiently from press • conferences and press • releases that officials • write Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  37. Public Opinion Spin Reporters often have to depend on official sources, which means that government officials are sometimes able to control what journalists report and how they report it Controlling Coverage of Military Operations Enemies watch TV also—don’t want to put the lives of American military personnel in jeopardy Press pools Embedded journalists Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  38. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion • Informal rules of journalism: • Explicit interpretations by journalists are avoided • Cannot directly expose lies • Cannot identify events as staged • Experts are selected partly for reasons of • convenience and audience appeal Barry McCaffrey

  39. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media You know, Rush, I pride myself and my show for being objective. But haven’t many in the media been accused of lacking objectivity or even having bias in presenting their stories? You hit that one on the head, Jon. In 2009, 60% of Americans believed the news media was biased while only 18% believed it was objective. Can any one of you students give Colonel Simoncini definitions of objectivity and bias?

  40. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media That’s right-on, Jon. And, Rush, bias is personal judgment or prejudice. Of course, neither John nor I are biased. OK, Rush, objectivity is the ability to report both sides of an issue without bias.

  41. The Media But, gentlemen, remember there is little or no systematic evidence that reporters personal values regularly affect what appears in the mainstream news media. • Commitment to objectivity • Owners et al: conservative Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  42. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics The Media Right now I need one student to discuss each of the five prevailing themes in political news. • Nationalism • Approval of the American economic system • Negativity and scandal • Infotainment • Limited, fragmented and incoherent political info

  43. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Rush, let’s take a moment to go outside of the text. People like me like an unrestrained media. But didn’t the media have more restraint in the old days? Very true, Jon. Back in the early ’60s, many in the news media knew that President Kennedy had extramarital affairs and said nothing. Nowadays, well, everything goes.

  44. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Rush, you, Simoncini and I know the answer to this but I wonder how many students can tell us when all that restraint changed? Good! Yes, most experts say that the Watergate scandal in 1972-1974 changed the media. They found that Americans like scandal and will pay to hear about it. After all the media is big businessand who gets the best stories makes the most money.

  45. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Yellow Journalists played a major role in agenda setting. Today the topics that get the most coverage in the media at a given point are the issues that people tell pollsters are the most important problems facing the nation.

  46. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Students, I am Ted Turner, the founder of the Cable News Network (CNN). What is the CNN effect? When the media decide to highlight a human rights tragedy in real time, political officials feel compelled to act. One scholarly study indicates that media choices about foreign policy stories shape what presidents pay attention to.

  47. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Students, I am NBC Nightly News anchor, Brian Williams. Media framing, or our interpretations of stories, affects how people think about political problems and how they assign blame. Little things such as the words we choose to say or how we pause between words or how we emphasize words play a major role in how people interpret what is going on. Indeed, we have considerable power and influence.

  48. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics Public Opinion Students, Chief Justice John Roberts, once again. What is prior restraint? Only under the most pressing circumstances of danger to national security can the government engage in prior restraint—the power to prevent publication of material to which the government objects.

  49. Public Opinion Some laws governing licensing of the airwaves Radio Act of 1927 Communications Act of 1934 (FCC) Telecommunications Act of 1996 Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics

  50. Students will explain the influence of the media on US government & politics This has been an interesting discussion, Rush. Early on you noted that if the media is the 4th branch of government it does not have any checks. I disagree. Doesn’t the FCC check the media? Public Opinion Yes, I agree, John. The Federal Communications Commission, established in 1934, does maintain some watch over fairness and equal time within the media. But in many other ways mentioned before, there really are few checks on the media.

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