THE MEDIA “THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT”

THE MEDIA “THE FOURTH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT”

The Evolution of News Media in the United States News media: media providing the public with new information about subjects of public interest Print media Newspapers were the first example of news media Published in the colonies as early 1690 Federalists v. Antifederalists Partisan newspapers Partisan press gave way to penny press Penny press focus on scandal Cleveland v. Blaine scandals in the election 1884

The Evolution of News Media in the United States Yellow journalism Form of newspaper publishing in vogue in the late-nineteenth century that featured pictures, comics, color, and sensationalized, oversimplified news coverage Hearst and Pulitzer Muckraking Form of journalism, in vogue in the early 20th century, concerned with reforming government and business conduct

Radio News Radio: advent in early twentieth century was a media revolution Brought political figures into homes Fell behind television in mid-50s AM talk radio in mid-80s revival Conservative commentators Liberal talk-radio less success Satellite radio

Radio News FDR’s fireside chats Today 1930’s weekly address to the nation Today AM Talk—conservative dominance Sean Hannity Rush Limbaugh Liberals: National Public Radio Link to Web sites to play students an excerpt from the different talk radio programs.

Television News First demonstrated in 1939 Expanded quickly Network vs. Cable news Comedy news programs Regular viewers of The Daily Show (Jon Stewart) were found to know more about world events than non-viewers even when education, party identification, watching cable news, etc. are taken into account.

Television News Network News Cable News: CBS NBC ABC FOX Cable News: C-SPAN CNBC and MSNBC Comedy News: SNL, the Daily Show, the Colbert Report Photo caption: What is C-SPAN? C-SPAN, shown here, is a public access channel that (through the main channel and its affiliates) provides gavel to gavel coverage of the House and Senate. It also airs a variety of other public affairs programming.

Where do Americans get their news?

The Influence of Media Giants Only a handful of media outlets are influential nationally. New York Times Wall Street Journal USA Today Christian Science Monitor Washington Post Los Angeles Times They have reach through their own circulation, but also influence what the five major national networks and cable news organizations decide to focus on. Affiliates Wire services also nationalize the news. News magazines also supplement these other sources. Time, Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report

Current News Media Trends Consolidation of privately-owned media Top 10 media chains account for more than 50% of daily circulation Concerns Market pressures Control of the flow of information Ex: Lebron using ESPN and ABC exclusively to announce decision Photo caption: How does media consolidation affect news coverage? When basketball star LeBron James announced he was, “Taking his talents to South Beach,” he created a boon for Disney, the parent company of television networks ABC and ESPN. He made his official announcement on ESPN, after much hype and promotion, and then he did the rounds on ABC’s news shows the next day. Critics charged that this insulated coverage prevented James from having to answer the hard questions about his departure from Cleveland. Differentiate between private ownership and government ownership of the media. Explain consolidation by explaining that the top ten media chains account for more than 50 percent of daily circulation, while fewer than 300 of the approximately 1,400 daily newspapers are independently owned. Use the photo or other examples to illustrate the concerns.

How the Media Cover Politicians And Government Communication between elected officials and public figures and media Press release: document offering an official comment or position Press briefing: relatively restricted session between a press secretary or aide and the press Press conference: an unrestricted session between an elected official and the press On background: information provided to a journalist that will not be attributed to a named source Deep background: information provided to a journalist that will not be attributed to any source Off the record: information provided to a journalist that will not be released to the public On the record: information provided to a journalism that can be released and attributed by name to the source

Covering the Presidency President is the focus of the most media coverage Can summon the press at will FDR was the first to use the press conference as a means to shape public opinion and explain his actions. Press Secretary: existed since Hoover’s administration President’s main disseminator of information to the press President gets the most coverage, but much of it is negative G.W. Bush record low number of press conferences Strategy to control his image

Covering Congress Size of Congress and its decentralized nature make it difficult for the media to cover it Solve this problem by: Giving leaders most attention Key committee chairs command center stage. Local newspapers and broadcast stations normally devote some resources to covering their own representatives. Coverage tends to be negative Focus on conflict May be part of the reason people view Congress so negatively Investigative hearings may be televised

Covering the Supreme Court Supreme Court remains a virtual media vacuum Broadcast media ban in Court Use of audio recordings No cameras, but print and broadcast reporters have access to the Court

Roles of the Media Gatekeeper Scorekeeper Watchdog

New York Times vs the US Pentagon papers

The Press and the Law Defamation (2 kinds) 1. Libel 2. Slander New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) “must prove actual malice if you are a public official, it is not enough to be merely untrue” Freedom of Information Act (“foil”) Shield Laws (state and federal—or lack thereof) Prior Restraint

The Media’s Influence on the Public Media effects The influence of news sources on public opinion Reporting can sway people who are uncommitted and have no strong opinions Media have a much greater impact on topics far removed from the lives and experiences of readers and viewers News organizations can help tell us what to think about, even if they cannot determine what we think Agenda setting: the constant process of forming the list of issues to be addressed by government Framing: the process by which a news organization defines a political issue and consequently affects opinion about the issue

The Public’s Perception of the Media Public opinion of media is relatively critical. Perceive media to be: Politically biased Roadblocks to solving problems Inaccurate in their reporting Unwilling to admit mistakes Most still view the national news media as credible. Terrorist attacks shifted public opinion positively for a period. Value the watchdog role of the news media

ideological promotion The process by which a news organization defines a political issue and consequently affects opinion about the issue is called _________. framing agenda setting media effects crossfire ideological promotion

ideological promotion The process by which a news organization defines a political issue and consequently affects opinion about the issue is called _________. framing agenda setting media effects crossfire ideological promotion 23

Today most Americans get their news from _____. Cable TV the Internet Radio Local TV Newspapers

Today most Americans get their news from _____. Cable TV the Internet Radio Local TV Newspapers 25

protection of unnamed sources. The Supreme Court case NY Times v. U.S. (1971) concerning the publication of the Pentagon Papers affirmed the principle of media ownership. content regulation. the equal time rule. prior restraint. protection of unnamed sources.

protection of unnamed sources. The Supreme Court case NY Times v. U.S. (1971) concerning the publication of the Pentagon Papers affirmed the principle of media ownership. content regulation. the equal time rule. prior restraint. protection of unnamed sources. 27

The White House Press Secretary:_____ delivers daily briefings to the press. answers the phone for the president. is really more like an administrative assistant. is elected by the national press core to represent their interests. is required to bring coffee and cookies to meetings the president has.

The White House Press Secretary: delivers daily briefings to the press. answers the phone for the president. is really more like an administrative assistant. is elected by the national press core to represent their interests. is required to bring coffee and cookies to meetings the president has. 29