News Media --Historical Development --Practices --Bias? --Effects of the Media 1

News Media—Historical Development I. Development of the News Media A. Dependent/Partisan Era (1700 – mid 1800s) Newspapers not profitable Publishers subsidized by parties Papers advocate for patrons B. Independent/Apolitical (mid 1800s – 1890s) 1. Newspapers become profitable 2. Emphasize local, human-interest stories 3. Little attention to national politics C. Independent/Political (1890s – present) 1. Chains and News Services develop 2. National government becomes a focus 3. Need for professional norms becomes apparent: a. “yellow journalism”yellowjournalism b. “muckraking” 4. Post-WWII: decline of papers, rise of TVrise of TV 5. Recent: Cable TV, internet, consolidation of ownership of mediainternetconsolidationownership of media 2

News Media—Practices I. Powers: A. Selection—what they do (and don’t) choose to show you B. Interpretation—what they say about what they show II. Selection: Criteria (what get’s picked?) A. Conflict: Mistakes, controversyMistakes B. Proximity: Closer, more relevant C. Visuals: Interesting to look at D. Timeliness: Current E. Conformity: Don’t miss a big story (“pack journalism”) III. Interpretation: Media are to follow professional norms A. Neutrality: do no express personal views, use loaded terms B. Balance: present “both sides” of conflict C. Reliable Sources: “some people say”some people say D. Recent Criticism: there can’t really be “objective” coverage 3

News Media—Bias? TWO FORMS OF BIAS: Ideological and Coverage I. Ideological Bias—Is there a “liberal bias” in the news? A. Demographically: YesYes 1. Does that mean a coverage bias? i. (Examples of liberal/conservative bias)liberalconservative B. Checks on liberal bias: Editors and ownersEditors and owners C. Result: Bias exists—in the eye of the beholder Consequences for democracy? Can we talk to each other?Can we talk to each other II. Coverage Bias—Politics over Policy Substance 1. “Game” perspectiveGame a. Emphasizes skills, conflicts, and “horse race” mentality b. More interesting, easier to cover c. Emphasizes Reporters’ voice over Politicians’ voiceReporters’ voice Politicians 2. Politicians use more “soft coverage”soft coverage 3. Cynicism over Skepticism a. Skepticism: demanding proof, exercising independent judgment b. Cynicism: assumes falsehood, that officials are “hiding something” i. Provoked by Vietnam (Pentagon Papers), WatergateProvoked by Vietnam (Pentagon Papers), Watergate ii. Emphasizes negative stories 4

News Media—Effects I. Can the news media shape our opinion? A. Effects are limited, due to “selective perception” 1. “Perceptual screen” protects us from “cognitive dissonance” II. Can the news media shape the public agenda? A. Significant effects—directs attention to some topics over others “The media doesn’t control what we think, but they do shape what we think about.” 5