Chapter 12 The Media

Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHO GOVERNS? WHO GOVERNS? 1.How much power do the media have? 2.Can we trust the media to be fair? TO WHAT ENDS? TO WHAT ENDS? 1.What public policies will the media support?

The Media and Politics Freedom of the Press Freedom of the Press The United States versus Europe The United States versus Europe Freedom of Information Act Freedom of Information Act Newspapers Newspapers Radio and Television Radio and Television Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Journalism in American Political History The Party Press The Party Press The Popular Press The Popular Press Magazines of Opinion Magazines of Opinion Electronic Journalism Electronic Journalism The Internet The Internet Copyright © 2011 Cengage Before television and the Internet, news came by radio, as here in p. 292 Bettmann/Corbis

Blogs, both conservative and liberal, have become an important form of political advertising. p. 289 Copyright © 2011 Cengage Powerlineblog.com. Reprinted with permission. As appeared on Reprinted with permission.

The Structure of the Media Degree of Competition Degree of Competition The National Media The National Media GatekeeperGatekeeper ScorekeeperScorekeeper WatchdogWatchdog Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Rules Governing the Media Newspapers – least governmental regulation Newspapers – least governmental regulation Radio and TV – most governmental regulation Radio and TV – most governmental regulation Confidentiality of Sources Confidentiality of Sources Regulating Broadcasting Regulating Broadcasting Campaigning Campaigning Copyright © 2011 Cengage Activists urge Congress to pass a law shielding reporters from being required to testify about their sources. p. 296 Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo

Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Are the National Media Biased? Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude? Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude? Does that attitude affect what they write or say? Does that attitude affect what they write or say? Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe? Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe? Copyright © 2011 Cengage

Are the National Media Biased? A liberal majority A liberal majority Neutral and objective? Neutral and objective? Routine storiesRoutine stories Feature storiesFeature stories Insider storiesInsider stories Media’s influence Media’s influence Selective attentionSelective attention Copyright © 2011 Cengage Spanish-speaking voters have become so important that candidates, such as Hillary Clinton, run Spanish web sites. p. 299 Hillaryclinton.com

Figure 12.2 Public Perception of Accuracy in the Media Copyright © 2011 Cengage Source: Pew Research Center, “The People and the Press” (August 2007).

Government and the News Prominence of the president Prominence of the president Coverage of Congress Coverage of Congress Why do we have so many news leaks? Why do we have so many news leaks? Sensationalism in the Media Sensationalism in the Media Government constraints on journalists Government constraints on journalists Copyright © 2011 Cengage

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When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304 Copyright © 2011 Cengage Brown Brothers

Copyright © 2011 Cengage Today, there are huge gatherings held in a special conference room, as on the right. p. 305 In 1933, White House press conferences were informal affairs, as when reporters gathered around Franklin Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Office. Bettmann/Corbis JASON REED/Reuters/Landov

Copyright © 2011 Cengage p. 306 ©1991 Dana Fradon/The New Yorker Collection from cartoonbank.com. All Rights Reserved.

M E M O R A N D U M To: Matthew Wilson, senator From: Margaret Drinker, legislative assistant Subject: Protecting Journalists The Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporter to testify does not violate the First Amendment to the Constitution. But Congress could pass a law, similar to that in many states, banning such testimony if it reveals a confidential source. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for: 1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one proposed by Congress. 2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being identified; without protection, a lot of important stories would not be written. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments against: 1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know all of the evidence against him or her and to confront witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right. 2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak secret information with no fear of being detected. Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Your decision: Support Bill? Oppose Bill? Copyright © 2011 Cengage WHAT WOULD YOU DO?