The Last Word: Assignment 6 due tomorrow Consider: What is “the press”?

The Roots of American Media Unit 3: AP Gov

What is “Mass media”? Mass media consists of the various means by which information reaches large numbers of people, such as television, radio, movies, newspapers, and the Internet. Sociologists study mass media especially to see how it shapes people's values, beliefs, perceptions, and behavior. “Not long ago, if you wanted to seize political power in a country, you had merely to control the army and the police. Today it is only in the most backward countries that fascist generals, in carrying out a coup d'etat, still use tanks. If a country has reached a high level of industrialization the whole scene changes. The day after the fall of Khrushchev, the editors of Pravda, Izvestiia, the heads of the radio and television were replaced; the army wasn't called out. Today a country belongs to the person who controls communications.” ◦ Umberto Eco, an Italian semiotician (study of signs and symbols), essayist, philosopher, literary critic, and novelist

Media and Government Have very interesting relationship: ◦ Adversarial ◦ Symbiotic Conflict with regard to reporting: Freedom of the press and need to make a profit - With freedom comes responsibility - With freedom from government subsidy comes need to make a profit

Roots of Media in the US: Print Media  First colonial newspapers printed 1690 Value of free press recognized early  Penny press New York Sun Sensational and scandalous Payoffs common Yellow journalism  Muckraking Exposing misconduct 14.1

Roots: Radio News  Became the center of home life in early 30’s FDR’s “fireside chats”  Displaced by TV in 1950s AM talk radio No talk radio for liberals, NPR not biased according to studies 14.1

Roots: TV News  Gradually replaced print and radio By 2011, most receive news from TV or Internet  Network v. cable news Fox News most popular  C-SPAN 14.1

Roots: Online Media  The Internet Main news source for 41% Lack of credibility, standards  Blogs Editorial news outlet  Social media Political debate Reach and engage citizens 14.1