1. Role of Media and Trends in News Coverage Rhodes

2. Role of Media Media plays many roles in reporting news and influencing our political decisions. 1.Gatekeeper Influence what subjects become national political issues, and for how long. 2. Scorekeeper The national media helps make political reputations. They analyze things who they feel is the winners and losers in Washington. Report of candidates as if it were a horse race.

3. Role of the Media 3. Watchdog Follow front runner candidates while looking for anything past or present that can make the news. 4. Agenda setter TV news influence the standards by which government presidents, policies and candidates are judged. 5. Effect on Political Preferences Not exactly sure how much media affects public opinion. Most like reinforces opinion as opposed to changing opinion

4. Trends in News Media TV News –24 Hour coverage with an ideological agenda. Ex. CNN or Fox News Rise of Talk Radio –Access to news in their cars. Ex. Rush Limbaugh, Al Franken, Sean Hannity. Newspapers –Local papers and national papers. Est. 42 million in circulation. Ex. Local-St. Louis Post Dispatch. National-USA Today

5. Trends in News Media Internet –Huge source of info. Can get this anywhere now Intense Competition –Both print and electronic media under tremendous pressure to be the first one to break a story. Media Conglomerates –Mega news empires. Ex. Disney/ABC/ESPN; Time Warner/Turner Broadcasting, Viacom (CBS, MTV, VHI)