1. Professor Chris Wells 201.journalism.wisc.edu #sjmc201
Journalism functions J201 Introduction to Mass Communication Oct
Professor Chris Wells
201.journalism.wisc.edu
#sjmc201

2. Coordinating action in society Characteristics of political systems
Journalism functions - today’s class plan
Coordinating action in society
Characteristics of political systems
Societal functions of journalism
How journalists have accomplished those functions? (Basic journalistic roles)

3. Action coordination mechanisms
Power
Market
Common understanding 3

4. Authoritarian political systems Democratic political systems
Action coordination mechanisms and political regimes
Authoritarian political systems
Democratic political systems
Demos – archy
PEOPLE
RULE

5. Scope/expertise/time Direct democracy Representative democracy
Problems of democracy
Scope/expertise/time
Direct democracy
Representative democracy
Deliberative democracy
In all forms of democracy communication are critical.

6. FROM SUBJECTS TO CITIZENS
Historical transition
FROM SUBJECTS TO CITIZENS
SUBJECTS
Little decision-making input
‘Best’ quality is loyalty
Deferential to authorities
Little need for information
No need for opinion formation
CITIZENS
(Some) input into decision-making
Independent thinking
Challenges authority
Need for information
Need for opinion formation
How do you accomplish this: through education, through information systems.

7. The public sphere - Media
Common
meaning
Soft
Power

8. Keep those in power accountable:
Societal functions of journalism
Keep those in power accountable:
- Informed of what government is doing
- How that affects you
Enhance citizenship/self government
Entman: Provide knowledge on:
- Policy issues
- Actions of those in power
- Ideology (perspectives that shape decisions)
- Self interest (your stakes on issues)

9. The case of Bell, California (2011)
Holding power accountable: Example
The case of Bell, California (2011)

10. City of Bell, California

11. Bell
Small, working class city near East LA Financial crises common to CA cities Contracting out services; “Charter City”

12. Ruben Vives and Jeff Gottlieb Beat reporters, East LA Investigating city of Maywood, CA Called the District Attorney The DA was investigating; city council members in Bell were up to something

13. Vives and Gottlieb visit Bell’s town offices City Manager Robert Rizzo won’t meet them Staff is evasive, won’t provide basic documents

14. Vives and Gottlieb file public records request Threaten lawsuit under Public Records Act

15. When they get the records, they find that: City Manager is making $700K+ Assistant City Manager: $350K Police Chief: $450K City Council Members: $100K+ (part time)

18. Reaction and results
City Manager, Assistant City Manager, and Police Chief resign City Council salaries reduced

20. Bell case summary: Process
Relied on: Beat reporting Gottlieb’s experience and intuition Knowledge of Public Records Act Journalistic know-how and leverage Knowledge of budgets and city governance

21. Bell case summary: Public interest journalism
Role of journalism in a democratic community Citizens and bloggers had been trying to get some of the same information! But… less expertise, less access to resources Notable: LA Times, not a local newspaper

22. Curran (traditional functions) - Inform - Scrutinize - Debate
Societal functions of journalism
Curran (traditional functions)
- Inform
- Scrutinize
- Debate
- Represent
Platform for open debate/ voice of the people
Media is not alone. Other intermediaries of civil societies (Parties, NGOs, independent judiciary)
There is multiplicity in media (civic, social, core)

23. Media fulfill these functions by providing us with news…
What is news?
“News is that part of communication that keeps us informed of the changing events, issues, and characters in the world outside. Though it may be interesting or even entertaining, the foremost value of news is as a utility to empower the informed.”
- Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel

24. Key journalistic standards: Accuracy Balance
News that meets certain standards
Key journalistic standards:
Accuracy
Balance
Checks on pure profit maximization
Democratic accountability focus
Editorial separation

25. “Traditional” journalism (neutral-fact oriented)
Different outlets contribute differently to these functions
“Traditional” journalism (neutral-fact oriented)
Advocacy journalism (advancing a particular policy solution)
Tabloid journalism (commercial considerations)
Entertainment media

26. Different outlets contribute differently to these functions

27. KEY ROLES IN JOURNALISM Publisher Business staff Managing editor
And they are organized to “make” the news
KEY ROLES IN JOURNALISM
Publisher
Business staff
Managing editor
Editors (theme/copy)
Reporters
Ombudsperson
Opinion writers/columnists

28. Questions
See you Friday.