1. Journalism U.S. journalism traditions

2. Colonial period 1690--Benjamin Harris--Publick Occurrences 1733--John Peter Zenger case--NY Journal 1765--stamp tax--colonial defiance: “newspaper war on Britain”

3. Main traditions from colonial period news media are independent from government news media try to mold government policy--editorial page journalists are committed to seeking truth public favors independent news media

4. Partisan period: the “party press” Post 1781--debate over constitution strong center or loose confederation? Federalist Papers

5. Problems during Partisan period Alien and Sedition Acts--1798 Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Ended with election of 1800--Thomas Jefferson

6. Lessons learned from partisan period Government should keep its hands off the press press is forum for discussion and debate-- press should comment on public issues people reject government when it transgresses against the press

7. Penny press period 1833--Benjamin Day’s NY Sun advertising supported broad appeal to working classes needed social &economic factors –industrialization –urbanization –immigration –literacy

8. Other Penny Press editors James Gordon Bennett--NY Herald Horace Greeley--NY Tribune Henry Raymond--NY Times

9. New trends inverted pyramid--AP objective reporting--neutral perspective appeals to general audience entertaining, sensationalistic at times aggressive news coverage committed to social improvement timeliness

10. Yellow Press era Joseph Pulitzer –Nellie By William Randolph Hearst –Spanish American War Opposed to Yellow Journalism –Adolph Ochs--NY Times

11. Personal values in news Journalist’s judgment: what is news? Herbert Gans’s research –ethnocentrism--through U.S. eyes –commitment to democracy & capitalism –small town pastoralism –individualism, but moderation –social order

12. Variables affecting news news hole news flow and staffing perceptions about audience availability of material competition –“pack” and “herd” journalism

13. Journalistic bias myth--journalists are “left,” “liberal” reality--most are political center most are politically independent news decisions on deadline news concerned with change doesn’t care about status quo watchdog tradition adversary of gov’t

14. Non-newsroom influences on news executive, corporate orders pandering to advertiser interests sociology of newsroom--like-minded people make similar decisions pressure from sources –manipulation by publicists –staged events--stunts

15. Gatekeeping--at home and abroad gatekeepers-- dozens in journalism food chain selective perception reporter bias editors decisions on every level

16. Global gatekeeping Competition for distant news news agencies AP UPI Reuters AFP Video news services

17. Possible effects of APvideo coverage –more “herd” journalism Network cutbacks Government deregulation Independent stations New technologies –Internet, digital media

18. Syndicates What is a syndicate? –Features for sale Types of syndicated services –political columns and cartoons –comics –advice and how to columns –reviews and literature –horoscopes & crossword puzzles

19. Journalism trends Soft news Exploratory reporting –sophisticated –computer assisted interpretative investigative –Watergate