Making It Relevant

Section 1-2 A.news releases I.The President and the Media B. briefings C.press conferences D.backgrounder – information from the president or important official that gives context to a policy E.Leak - Top government officials provide the media with information “off the record” and through news F.Media events - Modern presidents stage news events to reinforce their positions on issues.

Section 1-9 Congressional coverage focuses on individual members tends to report on the most controversial aspects of Congress such confirmation hearings – attract wide media coverage and often independent media investigations of the nominees oversight activities – media coverage of certain congressional investigations – such as Watergate – create some of the biggest stories in politics the personal business of members II. Congress and the Media

Section 1-12 A.The Supreme Court and the lower federal courts receive much less media coverage than the executive and legislative branches remoteness of judges technical nature of the issues with which courts deal III. The Court and the Media B.The Supreme Court holds no news conferences keeps to the tradition that decisions must speak for themselves

Section 2-2 A.The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press the press is free from prior restraint. IV. Protecting the Media B.libel – it is illegal to knowingly publish false information in order to damage one’s reputation public officials almost never win suits because there is no law against criticizing government officials

Section 2-4 A.Lower courts generally have supported the right of the press to have information about government actions and decisions. V.The Right to Gather Information B.shield laws – sought by the media to allow them to avoid disclosing sources no such federal law exists, though more than half the states have them

Section 2-6 A.The federal government has the power to regulate the broadcast media because airwaves are a public resource. VI. Regulating Broadcast Media B.Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, telephone, telegraph, cable and satellite cannot censor broadcasts can fine stations that violate rules C. extent content regulation varies in response to changing technology, court rulings, and changes in the political climate

Section 2-6 VI. Regulating Broadcast Media fairness doctrine – required broadcasters to guarantee equal airtime to both sides of a controversial issue (removed during the Reagan administration) Telecommunications Act of 1996 ended or greatly relaxed many of the FCC’s limits on media ownership intended to increase competition tried to control violent and obscene content in the mass media

Section Focus 3