1. Media and the Government

2. Media Industry and the Government
Types-Print, Broadcast, and Internet
Regulation
National Ownership (BBC): Not in the U.S. (PBS is only partially supported by federal funds)
Newspapers free from regulation
Broadcast-Federal Communications Commission regulates radio and tv. Allows for frequencies to be assigned.
Must apply for licenses every 5 years-automatically granted
Prohibit sexual and excretory references between 6AM and 10PM- enforced by fines
Equal time rule- the requirement that broadcasters provide candidates for the same political office an equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public.
Right of rebuttal- an FCC regulation giving individuals the right to have an opportunity to respond to personal attacks

3. Freedom of the Press
Prior Restraint- An effort by a government agency to block the publication of material it deems libelous or harmful in some other way; censorship. In the US the courts forbid prior restraint except under the most extraordinary circumstances.
Ex: Pentagon Papers
Libel- provides that newspapers that print false and malicious stories can be compelled to pay damages to those they defame. Very hard to win a libel case as a politician. They must deliberately print lies.

4. Organization and OwnershipUS
2000 TV Stations
1400 Daily Newspapers
13000 Radio Stations
Most national news is actually only provided by one wire service: The Associated Press.
3 National Newspapers- 2 elites (NY Times, Washington Post)
prime source for educated and influential people
Most news is affiliated with 5 networks
Radio stations and syndicated shows:
tend to be conservative in nature

7. The 24 Hour News Network CNN, FOX, MSNBC
CNN came to prominence after the Persian Gulf War
Have totally changed the way that Americans follow and “ingest news”
Birth of the “24 hour news cycle”
Breaking news as it happens
What is watched most?
Guesses?

9. What makes your different from a southerner?

10. Nationalization of the News
With radio, news became national as broadcasters took cues from one another
TV brought a crescendo to nationalization
Sectional perspectives became drowned out.
What matters more now?
Conservative vs. Liberal

11. Rise of Media: What has the biggest impact

12. Digital Media Has only changed WHEN people read
Blogs have made media feel more personal

13. Media Power in US
Agenda Setting- the process by which it is determined which issues are taken up by political actors and institutions.
Ex: The tsunami received far more extensive coverage in all countries analyzed in both television and print media which in turn affected people's behavior in terms of private donations. In Germany, for example, the tsunami received 666 reports in the three TV channels in comparison to 66 on the earthquake.

14. Media Power
Priming- A process of preparing the public to take a particular view of an event or a political actor.
EX: Pre-debate analysis

15. Media Power
Framing- the power of the media to influence how events and issues are interpreted government shut-down coverage
EX: Post Debate Analysis
Adversarial Journalism- the media adopt a hostile posture toward the government and public officials Is this good?

16. What determines interpretation of news?
News Producers or Journalists
News Interpretation
News Interpretation
Politicians or News Sources
News Consumers
News Consumers

17. Journalists Publishers Reporters Liberal Bias?
Can influence which stories are covered and how
William Randolph Hearst and Cuba
Reporters
Personal feelings can be interjected into their coverage
Liberal Bias?
61% of Bureau Chiefs and Reporters call themselves “liberal”
9% of Bureau Chiefs and Reporters call themselves “conservative”
But open to page 576, maybe there is a conservative bias in newspapers

18. News Sources Politicians Public Officials Special Interest Groups
Events
Sources often wish to use the media in a way which benefits them
Ever wonder how a script for a news show gets written?

19. The News Leak
A news leak is the disclosure of confidential information to the news media. Leaks may emanate from a variety of sources, including whistleblowers, lower-level officials who hope to publicize what they view as their bosses improper activities
Pentagon Papers
Wikileaks-
Are leaks a bad thing or are they good and important?

20. The Press Release
Press or news releases are news stories written by news sources which hope journalists will adopt their story with little changes.
Why do journalists allow this?
Saves time and therefore money.

21. Hiring Reporters
Sometimes the government or news sources hire their own reporters to cover the news they want covered
US Agency for International Development USAID operate or subsidize radio stations in Afghanistan

22. Consumers Catering to the Upscale Audience The Media and Conflict
While other segments of the public also read newspapers and watch the tv news, their level of interest in world events, national political issues, and the like is closely related to their level of education. Table 13.3 pg 584 As a result upscale Americans are overrepresented in the news and public affairs audience. Labor organizations, religion, veterans, fraternal, ethnic, and patriotic organizations all not covered much
The Media and Conflict
The media often cover conflict because the drama attracts attention
Compromise, rationality, and respect are not covered much
For example- debt ceiling debate, fiscal cliff, gun debate