Chapter 7 Mass Media and the Political Agenda
What can we use Media for? Use media to activate Presidents Hurricane Katrina Civil Rights Era Media produces immediate response. How should we govern? What Should the government do? Not the intentions of founding father, not set up to move that fast
High Tec Politics Politics is shaped by Technology Mass Media- TV, Radio, and Internet How does the government use this for their benefit? Media Events- planned event to get information to people, just for coverage, ordinary people GOTV Get on TV- 30 Second of TV more important than 12 hours of shaking hands (60% Campaign spending on TV)
How has media developed? Old Ways- letters to letters Roosevelt- invented media through Radio 1,000 Press conferences + Fireside Chats Feed the correct story, get reelected, Media- report badly, he will cut you out of press conference Personal Life is off limits- Roosevelt in a wheel chair, say what?
Boredom leads to Scrutinization A new type of Journalism Less investigation more accusations Investigative Journalism-use in-depth reporting to unearth scandal, scams, and schemes Politicians v. Reporters No more what they do only why. Claim a complete and accurate look. Is this true? Yellow Journalism- look for the violence and corruption without regard to the truth
What is Happening to the flow of information? News Papers- New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, etc… Die, Die Readers are more informed politically 100,000 words to hear story compared to 3,600 on TV Radio Broadcast, had to pay attention to words TV- Nixon v. JFK- looks compared to words Sickly looking, TV replaced Radio during that debate
Fight for President in Media 1934 FCC- Federal communication commission No Monopolies-cant own more than 35% of market Must Serve the Publics Interest Candidates- Fair Time-abolished in 1980’s Multiple Stations-
NarrowCasting Draw in the Younger Crowds with multiple options in Media MTV, ESPN, C-Span (Specialize Politics)=less watching of politics Could get more information, but we choose fun over politics Cable Politics Only 11% used for written and edited stories Reporter spoke extemporaneously (impromptu) Repeat stories without new info Spotty ignoring main points and facts Down goes Journalism- about making money not giving stories
Internet Limitless line of info to make decisions Limitless distractions-information is not always true, retract without knowing
Website neutrality
Conglamorats add
Media Conglomerates A company owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as TV, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet Ownership is concentrated Content is homogonized