Chapter 12 The Media

Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.How much power do the media have? 2.Can we trust the media to be fair? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1.What public policies will the media support?

Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Being Informed By /5 th of all people between the ages of 18 and 29 got their campaign news from the Internet By /5 th of all people between the ages of 18 and 29 got their campaign news from the Internet Television and Internet are key parts of New Media Television and Internet are key parts of New Media Newspapers and magazine s are part of Old Media Newspapers and magazine s are part of Old Media Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Media and Politics Freedom of the Press - 1 st Amendment Freedom of the Press - 1 st Amendment The United States versus Europe The United States versus Europe Sue newspapers defaming/rediculing public officials Sue newspapers defaming/rediculing public officials Official Secrets Act - can punish anyone who leaks information Official Secrets Act - can punish anyone who leaks information Freedom of Information Act Freedom of Information Act Easy for the press to extract documents for the government Easy for the press to extract documents for the government Privately Held Media: Privately Held Media: NewspapersNewspapers Radio (7) and Television (5) - need a licenseRadio (7) and Television (5) - need a license Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Licenses need renewed periodically Licenses need renewed periodically Use this as a way of influencing station owners who were out of political favor Use this as a way of influencing station owners who were out of political favor Control has lessened over the years Control has lessened over the years Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Potential limits of newspapers and broadcast stations 1. Must make a profit 1. Must make a profit Leads to media outlets distorting the news in order to build an audienceLeads to media outlets distorting the news in order to build an audience 2. Media Bias 2. Media Bias Similar viewpoints of editors and reporters may result in one side of the storySimilar viewpoints of editors and reporters may result in one side of the story Copyright © 2013 Cengage

powerlineblog.com. Reprinted by permission of Powerline. As appeared on Reprinted with permission. Blogs, both conservative and liberal, have become an important form of political advertising.

Journalism in American Political History The Party Press - created, sponsored and controlled newspapers by political factions The Party Press - created, sponsored and controlled newspapers by political factions The Popular Press - could not be partisan or bias (objective) in order to attract as many readers as possible The Popular Press - could not be partisan or bias (objective) in order to attract as many readers as possible Magazines of Opinion - ”investigative reporting” to clean up issues of public policy Magazines of Opinion - ”investigative reporting” to clean up issues of public policy Electronic Journalism - permits public officials to speak directly to audiences without being filtered through editors and reporters (find ways to ignore it) Electronic Journalism - permits public officials to speak directly to audiences without being filtered through editors and reporters (find ways to ignore it) The Internet - ultimate free market for political news The Internet - ultimate free market for political news No one can ban control or regulate itNo one can ban control or regulate it

Magizines of Opinion Nation, the Atlantic Monthly, Harpers Nation, the Atlantic Monthly, Harpers Muckraking - A form of mass media, comprising of magazines, newspapers and journals used to expose issue Muckraking - A form of mass media, comprising of magazines, newspapers and journals used to expose issue Lincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Upton SinclairLincoln Steffens, Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair Yellow Journalism - A form of newspaper publishing in vogue in the late 19th century that featured pictures, comics, color, and sensationalized, oversimplified news coverage. Yellow Journalism - A form of newspaper publishing in vogue in the late 19th century that featured pictures, comics, color, and sensationalized, oversimplified news coverage. Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Electronic Journalism Electronic Journalism ABC, NBC, CBS - early networsl - called the “big three” ABC, NBC, CBS - early networsl - called the “big three” Cable television, early morning news, and entertainment programs and prime time “news magazine” shows have greatly diversified politicians acces to the electronic media Cable television, early morning news, and entertainment programs and prime time “news magazine” shows have greatly diversified politicians acces to the electronic media Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Bettmann/Corbis News used to come by radio, but today many people read newspapers on iPads and other electronic devices. Pixellover RM 3/Alamy

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: Nielsen Media Research, used under license. Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, 2011 State of the News Media,

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Source: The Wall Street Journal (February 15, 2007). Copyright © 2007 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Dow Jones & Company, Inc., via Copyright Clearance Center. Note: 18–34 readership represents the average of 18–24 readership and 25–34 readership data is through September

The Internet and Politics It is now easier to: raise money in small donations raise money in small donations organize people to attend meetings organize people to attend meetings take instant (unreliable?) opinion polls take instant (unreliable?) opinion polls instantly criticize your opponent instantly criticize your opponent mobilize local followers mobilize local followers target campaigners with the names of people they should contact target campaigners with the names of people they should contact Copyright © 2013 Cengage

The Structure of the Media Degree of Competition Degree of Competition The National Media The National Media Gatekeeper - the role the press plays by influencing what subjects become national political issues and for how long. Gatekeeper - the role the press plays by influencing what subjects become national political issues and for how long. Scorekeeper - The role the press plays by keeping track of and helping make political reputations, note who is being mentioned as a presidential candidate, and help decide who is winning and losing in Washington politics Scorekeeper - The role the press plays by keeping track of and helping make political reputations, note who is being mentioned as a presidential candidate, and help decide who is winning and losing in Washington politics Watchdog - The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals Watchdog - The role played by the national media in investigating political personalities and exposing scandals Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Rules Governing the Media Newspapers – least governmental regulation (no censorship prior to publishing, but possible punishment after) Newspapers – least governmental regulation (no censorship prior to publishing, but possible punishment after) Radio and TV – most governmental regulation (need licenses Radio and TV – most governmental regulation (need licenses Confidentiality of Sources - government can compel a reporter to divulge their sources if it deals with a crime Confidentiality of Sources - government can compel a reporter to divulge their sources if it deals with a crime Regulating Broadcasting - must submit details to about programming on how they plan to serve “community needs” Regulating Broadcasting - must submit details to about programming on how they plan to serve “community needs” Equal time rule - sells air time to one candidate, must sell to the opponentEqual time rule - sells air time to one candidate, must sell to the opponent Campaigning - buying TV time - commericials (Presidents almost always use it because it reaches the entire nation) Campaigning - buying TV time - commericials (Presidents almost always use it because it reaches the entire nation) Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Senator Barack Obama campaigning for president in Los Angeles. REUTERS/Jason Reed

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Pew Research Center for the People Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, “Press Accuracy Rating Hits Two-Decade Low: Public Evaluations of the News Media: 1985–2009,” September 2009,

Are the National Media Biased? Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude? Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude? YES! - the great majority is liberalYES! - the great majority is liberal Conservatives (Fox-O’Reilly Factor, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh)Conservatives (Fox-O’Reilly Factor, Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh) Does that attitude affect what they write or say? Does that attitude affect what they write or say? Yes - routine stories, Feature stories and Insider storiesYes - routine stories, Feature stories and Insider stories Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe? Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe? Probably - people remember and believe only what they want toProbably - people remember and believe only what they want to

Bias by omission leaving one side out of an article, or a series of articles over a period of time leaving one side out of an article, or a series of articles over a period of time particular news outlet reports one set of events, but not another particular news outlet reports one set of events, but not another Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Bias by selection of sources including more sources that support one view over another including more sources that support one view over another phrases as “experts believe,” “observers say,” or “most people believe.” phrases as “experts believe,” “observers say,” or “most people believe.” when a news story only presents one side, it is obviously the side the reporter supports. when a news story only presents one side, it is obviously the side the reporter supports. Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Bias by story selection a pattern of highlighting news stories that coincide with the agenda of either the Left or the Right, while ignoring stories that coincide with the opposing view a pattern of highlighting news stories that coincide with the agenda of either the Left or the Right, while ignoring stories that coincide with the opposing view coverage conservative issues get compared to issues on the liberal agenda, or liberals compared to conservatives coverage conservative issues get compared to issues on the liberal agenda, or liberals compared to conservatives Example: if a liberal group puts out a study proving a liberal point, look at how much coverage it got compared to a conservative study issued a few days or weeks earlier, or vice versaExample: if a liberal group puts out a study proving a liberal point, look at how much coverage it got compared to a conservative study issued a few days or weeks earlier, or vice versa Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Bias by placement on a website (or newspaper) or in an article a story or event is printed; a pattern of placing news stories so as to downplay information supportive of either conservative views or liberal views on a website (or newspaper) or in an article a story or event is printed; a pattern of placing news stories so as to downplay information supportive of either conservative views or liberal views observe where a media outlet places political stories (how important the editor considers the story) observe where a media outlet places political stories (how important the editor considers the story) Most people just read the headlines! Most people just read the headlines! Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Bias by labeling Bias by labeling If the “expert” is properly called a “conservative” or a “liberal” the news consumer can take that ideological slant into account when evaluating the accuracy of an assertion If the “expert” is properly called a “conservative” or a “liberal” the news consumer can take that ideological slant into account when evaluating the accuracy of an assertion Two forms: Two forms: tagging of conservative politicians and groups with extreme labels while leaving liberal politicians and groups unlabeled or with more mild labels, or vice versa. tagging of conservative politicians and groups with extreme labels while leaving liberal politicians and groups unlabeled or with more mild labels, or vice versa. when a reporter not only fails to identify a liberal as a liberal or a conservative as a conservative, but describes the person or group with positive labels, such as “an expert” or “independent consumer group.” when a reporter not only fails to identify a liberal as a liberal or a conservative as a conservative, but describes the person or group with positive labels, such as “an expert” or “independent consumer group.” In so doing, the reporter imparts an air of authority that the source does not deserve.In so doing, the reporter imparts an air of authority that the source does not deserve.

Bias by spin It’s a reporter’s subjective comments about objective facts; makes one side’s ideological perspective look better than another It’s a reporter’s subjective comments about objective facts; makes one side’s ideological perspective look better than another Bias by spin occurs when the story has only one interpretation of an event or policy, to the exclusion of the other Bias by spin occurs when the story has only one interpretation of an event or policy, to the exclusion of the other interpretation of an event or policy a news story matchesinterpretation of an event or policy a news story matches Copyright © 2013 Cengage

Government and the News Prominence of the President Prominence of the President Teddy Roosevelt - press as an art formTeddy Roosevelt - press as an art form Coverage of Congress Coverage of Congress Restrictive coverage - recently has help shed light on possible presidential candidates from CongressRestrictive coverage - recently has help shed light on possible presidential candidates from Congress Why do we have so many news leaks? Why do we have so many news leaks? Government leaks favorable storiesGovernment leaks favorable stories Adversarial press - nationally, we do not trust the pressAdversarial press - nationally, we do not trust the press Sensationalism in the media Sensationalism in the media What is shared and not shared - What changed? Journalism and the ideas of reportersWhat is shared and not shared - What changed? Journalism and the ideas of reporters Affairs of Presidents - FDR and Kennedy - Bill ClintonAffairs of Presidents - FDR and Kennedy - Bill Clinton Government constraints on journalists Government constraints on journalists Copyright © 2013 Cengage

When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. Copyright © 2013 Cengage Brown Brothers

Copyright © 2013 Cengage Today, there are huge gatherings held in a special conference room, as on the right. In 1933, White House press conferences were informal affairs, as when reporters gathered around Franklin Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Office. Bettmann/Corbis JASON REED/Reuters/Landov

M E M O R A N D U M To: Matthew Wilson, senator From: Margaret Drinker, legislative assistant Subject: Protecting journalists The Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporter to testify does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. But Congress could pass a law, similar to that in many states, banning such testimony if it reveals a confidential source. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for: 1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one proposed by Congress. 2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being identified; without protection, a lot of important stories would not be written. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against: 1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know all of the evidence against him or her and to confront witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right. 2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak secret information with no fear of being detected. Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision: Support Bill? Oppose Bill? Copyright © 2013 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?