1. Chapter 5
The News

2. Convergence
A constant since there were only two or three. Now, there are many types of media news that all effect one another and eventually create a new “kind” of news coverage.
What would you call today’s style of news coverage?

3. The Four Major Theories of News
Authoritarian
Libertarian
Soviet Communist
Social Responsibility

4. Authoritarian The government controls the media completely.
This led to (in U.S.) laws against treason and sedition.
Modern examples include Turkey, Iraq, China, etc (imagine China’s view of the worldwide coverage of SARS)

5. Libertarian
Emerged from a premise that the government should exist solely to serve the interests of the individual.
Media should serve the people not government and the best way to find the truth is to have many opinions aired.
Came about during Age of Enlightenment (15th to 18th centuries)

6. More Libertarian
Jefferson, Franklin, James Madison and others helped form the idea
Freedom of the Press comes about; First Amendment
Watchdog of the government
Fourth Estate
Fifth Estate –broadcast
Sixth Estate--internet
Obviously, we still have this form in U.S.

7. Soviet Communist Russian Revolution in 1917
Modeled on Authoritarian Theory
Added the agenda setting/news was to communicate the doctrines of the state and the Communist Party to the masses
Authoritarian did not rely as heavily on use as propaganda; less information in general

8. Authoritarian—controlled system of news
Soviet Communist—planned system of news

9. Social Responsibility
Evolution of media became more about profit
More chains developed; so fewer ideas were presented
Out of the criticism comes the Social Responsibility Theory
Offshoot of Libertarian that contends press is socially responsible to keep a democratic nation informed

10. More Social Responsibility
There was a clear need for some sort of regulation
Press could not be entirely free
FCC formed for broadcasters but print is still involved in self-regulation
Some modern ideas like FOX New Network deal with the idea of more opinions

11. Functions of Media 1)to inform 2)to entertain
3)to influence (through editorials)
4)to present advertisements
5)to transmit the culture

12. Common Faults/Problems
Blaming the Messenger
Watchdog Function
Bad News Only Myth (selective retention)
Myth of Media Truth
Biases (Liberal Press)

13. Wire Services AP Associated Press New York 1848
UPI United Press International 1907
Reuters 1850s London
AFP Agence France-Presse Paris 1945
Public service not for profits services

14. Radio News Developed around World War II
Before, radio did limited news
We then heard from Edward R. Murrow
Live reports
First time we heard “actual” war sounds
Then followed development of radio networks ABC, NBC (in coming chapters)

15. TV News
The political conventions of 1948 broadcast by CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System) and NBC (National Broadcasting Company)
Later Vietnam War became first time we saw “actual” war footage in 1960s
The Space Race got many people hooked on TV news as well
Then, it gets out of hand
Watergate, etc. (future chapters)

16. More TV News CNN Cable News Network Ted Turner early 1980s
First 24 hour news channel
Others follow but not for more than 10 years
CNN encouraged camcorder use
Rodney King in 1991

17. Internet Still not really developed as a news agency
Currently, all other previous forms have websites to help make news interactive
Some news breaks on the internet but few people use as major source of news
What will the convergence bring?