Mass Media

History of Government and the Press Because of the First Amendment, the US has free press-an uninhibited instruction that places an additional check on government to maintain honesty, ethics, and transparency. (i.e. the press is another linkage instruction) Newspapers for the Party Washington and Hamilton with John Fenno started the Gazette of the United States to convey Federalist ideology Jefferson with Philip Freneau started the National Gazette to spread Anti- Federalist ideology Both publications created the public discourse in the United States.

Independent Press 1833, the New York Sun becomes the first newspaper for readers with modest incomes (1 penny). 1841, the Telegraph is invented by Samuel Morse, Congress funds it, making the first time government is directly involved in private telecommunication. 1848, The Associated Press is formed, it becomes the leading paper that covers national news thanks to the telegraph. The AP used unbiased reporting to spread the news to its customers. 1860, the Government Printing Office broke from the patronage of government and formed a permanent federal agency to print government publications.

Rise of Yellow Journalism Yellow journalism is exaggerated stories filled with sensational crime and scandal. Late 1800s, William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer competed for readers by using aggressive yellow journalism of murders, fires, lynching, political corruption, and scandals. 1898, the USS Maine explodes and Hearst and Pulitzer’s publication blames the Spanish, creating public opinion, which lead to the Spanish American War.

Progressive Journalism Progressive journalism is reporting and a publication’s ability to create change due to their integrity. McClure's, The Nation, and The New Republic offered in depth stories on national issues. Investigative reporting, where reporters went undercover to expose corruption, became prominent. Ida Tarbell, and other muckrackers, wrote exposé on prominent figures.

Broadcasting Radio Broadcast networks emerged in the 1920s. Edward R. Murrow pioneered “just the facts” journalism During World War II, journalistic footage from the war was shown prior to movies. In the 1950s, television became the primary source of media consumption. The Big Three networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC) developed the standard news format that is similar to what we see today. 1960, J.F. Kennedy became the first candidate to use TV as a campaign tool.

Watergate and Vietnam These two events in US history make journalist skeptical of information they received from the government creating an adversarial press. Vietnam – over 500 journalists were stationed during the war. They quickly realized that what they were witnessing was different from what the government was reporting to the media back home. Watergate – while covering a burglary at the hotel, two Washington Post reporters figured out that the suspects were tied to the White House, and they were trying to steal information to help Nixon’s re- election.

President and the Press 1900, Theodore Roosevelt uses the media as the bully pulpit-he gets them to persuade the public, who then persuades Congress. 1930s, Franklin D. Roosevelt uses fire side chats to give public announcements to the public over the radio. 1960s, JKF does the first televised press conference. Herbert Hoover introduces the first White House Press Secretary Today, the executive uses press conferences as a way to spin or manipulate the media.

Congress, the Courts, and the Media In its very first meeting in history, Congress voted to open its doors to the press. In the 1970s, C-SPAN (Cabel Satellite Public Affairs Network) was created to cover Congress. The 6th Amendment guarantees public trials. National newspapers and television stations have reporters dedicated to covering court proceedings.

Role of Media Gatekeeper-the media determines what is newsworthy and what will be aired. Scorekeeper- the media tracks political successes and failures. Watchdog-journalists look for corruption, scandal, or inefficacy.