Interest groups & the media

1. Interest groups & the media Connecting citizens to the government

2. Scapegoats? • Americans often blame interest groups and the media for problems in politics. • Political scientists say that reality is more complex. Both are part of the democratic process and are protected by the 1st amendment. Both are central to US politics.

3. Interest Group Defined • Text: people organized to pursue a common interest by applying pressure on the political process (p. 230-231). • They join together to try to influence political outcomes, whether local, state or global.

4. Different than Political Parties Interest groups may promote a particular candidate or policy during an election, but they do not run candidates and seek elective office.

5. Long History in the U.S. Alexis de Tocqueville wrote in the 1830s: “Americans form associations for the smallest undertakings.” He saw groups as helping to secure liberty.

6. Types of Interest Groups Associational Institutional Non-associational Anomic

7. Associational Groups Organized specifically to engage in political activity but may do other things. Examples: economic, professional, public interest, single issue, membership (age, race, etc), or broad ideology

8. Institutional Groups Organized for non-political purposes but participate in politics to secure their institutional interests. Examples: universities, the military, religious institutions

9. Non-associational Groups No formal organization and no sense of themselves as a group, but they are seen by others as a group. Examples: consumers, college students, “soccer” moms

10. Anomic Interest Groups These emerge as a result of some crisis or specific event. No formal structure or leaders. Example: spontaneous student protests over tuition increases.

11. Interest Group Strategies 1. Direct lobbying of legislators & officials 2. Providing technical information or testimony 3. Grassroots organizing 4. Litigation – bringing lawsuits

12. Interest Group Strategies 5. Campaign involvement official endorsements get-out-the vote drives of their members direct financial contributions independent expenditures bundling PAC contributions with like-minded groups.

13. Interest Group Strategies 6. Boycotts, rallies and protests to bring issues to national agenda

14. Impact on democracy? • Role of money • Role of access

15. Media roles Media is used: • By government to talk with the public • By those in power to talk to each other • As a watchdog of government • To give feedback to the government • By the public to express concerns & views

16. Media Developments • From newspaper to radio to network TV • Fewer newspapers & fewer journalists • Concentrated ownership • Cable TV & CNN: 24/7 news cycles • New technologies: Internet & cell phones • 2008: Internet used by 85% of U.S. families • News becoming more participatory

17. What media does • Agenda-setting: what do people think about? • Framing: and how do people think about it?

18. The Daily Show with John Stewart “Fake” news program on Comedy Central. Some knowledge of real news is necessary to understand the humor. Stewart lampoons weaknesses of both parties. But he aims most of his humor at the news media. Social critique.

19. The Daily Show with John Stewart http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/tue-april-5-2011-colin-quinn http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-april-11-2011/countdown-to-the-next-countdown---i-can-t-believe-it-s-not-shuttered-