How News Reported! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCho-_t6bEU Unit 5: Linkage Institutions
Driving force behind the News? Q1 & 2: High ratings Advertising $ Profits $$$ Consequences = a news political agenda based on $ An American citizenry that lacks basic political knowledge News becomes the sensational, unusual or negative events which get more attention of public than the boring good stuff on politics This negative & unusual makes people think Govt. always doing bad things!
Their source of information: Advantage to politicians: How News gathered? Q3 News gathered by BEATS! Journalists assigned to certain institutions of government, ex. White house, Senate, Pentagon etc. Their source of information: The Press Secretaries: spokes people of these institutions through press conferences Advantage to politicians: Let’s politicians control how much & what type of information is reported to the public
Sometimes the information the journalists receive are: Trial Balloons? Q4 Sometimes the information the journalists receive are: Trial Ballons: Intentional leaks by politicians to gauge/measure the political reaction to a policy idea or choice for government (anonymous source) If the idea bad: Abandon ship If idea good: Could be basis for new policy, or person chosen for a federal position, etc.
The Format of news Reporting! Q5 No depth!! Talking Heads tell news w/use of Soundbites! This allows: Glossing over complexities of issues Puts focus on politician & their personalaities rather than their policies The advantage this presents: allow politicians to craft political personas/image without having to directly address an issue This contributes to Americans’ lack of political knowledge
Bias in News & News Business? Q6 Not in way news is presented! However, a factor in what is news (chosen) & what is not news (not chosen)!! Little evidence of ideological or party driven bias, bias more towards: dramatic or sensational stories that are likely to draw large audiences ($$)!
Media & public agenda! Q7 & Q8 Enormous influence: The Gatekeepers pick which stories to focus on those stories become most pressing political topics determine political priorities of public = telling us what to think about! In area of politics: Shift from covering government as a whole to individual politicians Consequence = too much attention on president enhances position & power!
Tries to keep government answerable to the public! Media as Watchdog! Q9 Tries to keep government answerable to the public! However, has a bit of “chicken or the egg” problem: Its format discourage Americans from thinking critically about politics But Since news is based on ratings, its content reflects what citizens want to see and read
History of Govt. & Press! Q10: Early history: Used to work together to communicate w/public, govt. honest! FDR started good relations: invented press conferences Used radio to do his “fireside chats” Two events changed this relationship: Vietnam War (Pentagon Papers) Watergate scandal The trust was gone, govt. can lie! Today media more suspicious of political motives: Lots of investigative journalism w/intent of exposing political scandals
Politician use of media! Q11 3 ways used to set agenda: A media event: an event staged by a political leader w/purpose of coverage in the media to shape an image or draw attention to a chosen issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzjGz20WUyM They use the media to run advertisements: Often 30 seconds in length, make up majority of spending on campaigns Presidents also use the media to make direct appeals to the public
4 main roles of Mass Media! Q12: It informs the public: Tells us what is news, what things the public should be concerned about The media also helps shape public opinion: Tells us what to think by which news they choose, becomes part of the national dialogue Provides link between citizens & their government: C-Span and C-Span II show what policies/actions government is working on Serves the role of Watchdog: Investigate & examine members of govt. when rules broken or caught in acts of corruption, bribery or serious crimes.