Chapter 8 Section 3

Role of Mass Media Four major mass media: television, newspapers, radio, magazines. Other media are books, films, and the internet. The media present people with political information. People acquire most of the stuff they know about government from the media.

Television The first example was Roosevelt’s opening of the 1939 World’s Fair. Television replaced newspapers around 1960 as the most popular medium. The biggest networks are CBS, ABC, and NBC. More and more stations dealing with politics are sprouting up. (CNN)

Newspapers The Constitution showed the importance of newspapers in the First Amendment. Newspapers seem to cover political stories in more depth. More popular ones are New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune. Most newspapers are local papers.

Radio Began in 1920 and became a big part of American lives. FDR’s fireside chats was the first times politics really used the medium. All news stations are becoming more popular. Satellite radio is become more popular. (Sirius, XM)

Magazines In early years magazines were of opinions. Today they provide insight and opinions on politics. The big ones are Time, Newsweek, and US News.

The Public Agenda The media plays an important role in determining which problems we hear about. These problems are typically the ones the government tries to fix. Some news organizations have a lot of influence on political leaders.

Electoral Politics Television allows candidates to reach the voters. Candidates must also put forth a good image while using the mass media. Campaign managers use the media to help create an image.

Limits on Media Influence Only a small part of society is informed on the issues. Most people are selective about what they watch or read. Most public affairs programs don’t air during prime time.