Media & Politics
Media Act as a linkage institution between people and policymakers Overall, media in America enjoys much more freedom than any other nation It has become a love-hate relationship between the politicians and media
Evolution of the Media Party press Federalist papers, Anti-Federalist papers, Gazette of the US, The National Gazette,
Evolution of the Media Popular press Pulitzer & Hearst Exposed political corruption and scandal Muckrakers Yellow journalism Magazines of opinion Political reform
Evolution of the Media Broadcast journalism Radio Television CBS NBC ABC
Evolution of the Media Narrowcasting Internet Social Media
National Press Ex: Time, Newsweek, CNN, Fox Important for two reasons: 1. Government officials in DC pay great attention to what these media say about them and their programs 2. Reporters and editors for the national press tend to differ from those who work for the local press
3 Roles of National Press Gatekeeper They influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long Scorekeeper They track political reputations and candidacies. Cover elections as though they are horse races rather than choices among policy alternatives. Media momentum during presidential primary season is crucial Watchdog They investigate personalities and expose scandal
Government Influence on Media Newspapers are almost entirely free from govt. regulation 1st Amendment protects them from prior restraint (censorship before something is printed) Ex. Pentagon Papers Can be sued after publication but Supreme Court has ruled narrowly on libel and obscenity Confidentiality of sources
Government Influence on Media Radio and television are heavily regulated by govt. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Independent regulatory agency Must have licenses to operate Equal time rule Right-of-reply rule Political editorializing rule Fairness doctrine—abolished by FCC Violated 1st Amendment rights
AP Exam Role of the media and its impact on public opinion and the political agenda Limits on the media Bias of the media Agenda Setting