1. NEWSPAPERS First daily newspaper: Philadelphia 1783 Very bias
Telegraph invented “wire service”
Associated Press (1849)
Yellow Journalism
Early 1900s-Newspaper Chains
Today-78% controlled by media conglomerates
Most influential
New York Times
Washington Post
Chicago Tribune
Los Angeles Times

2. RADIO Invented in 1903 1920-broadcast election results
Franklin Roosevelt-first president to use this media effectively
Fireside Chats
Two weekly press conferences
Today’s impact
Talk radio

3. TELEVISION First television station-1931
First televised Presidential Debate-1960
First televised war-Vietnam
Exposed government wrongs
Protest movement
Cable TV
CNN-24 hour news coverage
More people rely on TV for news than any other source
Half of Americans believe TV reports more believable than newspaper stories

4. MASS MEDIA & THE POLITICAL AGENDA

5. MAGAZINES Began in early 1900s Muckrakers-Progressive Movement
Today-little political content
Most popular
Times, Newsweek, US News
Educated Elite
New Republic
National Review

6. INTERNET Broader range of perspectives
All policymaking institutions, policy makers, interest groups, other news mediums have websites
2/3rd of Americans have access
Important fundraising tool

7. GOVERNMENT LICENSED MEDIA
Federal Communications Commission
1934
Performance standards
Operating license renewed every 8 years
Equal Time Provision
Broadcasters must give equal air time to each candidate
Charge same rates

8. REPORTING THE NEWS American Business Finding news
Profits shape how journalists define what is newsworthy, where they get news, and how to present it
Especially true of 24 hour news networks
Finding news
Well-established sources
Leak information for reaction
Public officials
Investigative journalism

9. PRESENTING THE NEWS Network News Limited time and space Sound bites
News programs
Nightline
Dateline
60 minutes
20/20

10. BIAS IN THE NEWS Liberal bias Political neutrality
Reporters more likely to call themselves liberal
“point/counterpoint” reporting
Political neutrality
Journalistic objectivity
Rewarded by editors and viewers
Financial stake

11. MEDIA AND PUBLIC OPINION
Difficult to study
Decision to cover or ignore issues
Focus attention on specific problems
Gives criteria to evaluate political leaders

12. MEDIA AND PUBLIC AGENDA
All groups depend on media for airtime
Political activists
Weapons
Press release, press conferences, personal contacts
leaks
Political art form
Political events
Visual stories
Public Relation Firms

13. 4TH BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT
Key linkage institution
“Watchdog” function
Biased against all office holders
Reformist
Encourage growth of government
Individualism
Candidates appeal to people directly through TV
President more visible than other branches of government
Supreme Court is least visible