The Media

What is meant by the Media?News organizations and journalists of either

the print (newspapers, magazines), broadcast (TV, radio), or internet (websites, newsfeeds, blogs)

Views of the MediaLibertarian ViewSocial Responsibility Theory

Agenda setting prevails

Media provide linkageA link between the masses & government“Pseudo-Events”

Appear spontaneous, but are scripted for appeal

Groundbreakings, school ceremonies

Media as a WatchdogThe media has a watchdog role as the

“eyes and ears of the world”Fact-CheckingInvestigative reporting

“Muckraking”Exposing societal ills such as corruption

Upton Sinclair’s, The JungleWatergateAbu Ghraib

Media as a Watchdog Media are often controlled by the

government

News Agency of the Republic of Iran (IRNA)

The national Police chief has verified confiscation of a number of squirrels, equipped with eavesdropping devices, on the Iraqi border. Reportedly, when asked about the confiscation of 14 spy squirrels, he stated, “I have heard about it, but I do not have precise information”. IRNA adds, “These squirrels were equipped by foreign intelligence services, but were captured two weeks ago by the Police”.

Media as a Watchdog Media are often controlled by the

government What about the U.S.?

The Media in campaignsDetermining “front-running candidates”Charging for advertising Televising debatesPortraying charismatic politicians as more

“electable”

Mass Media “For it seems more

certain now than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate”-Walter Cronkite, February 1968

“That’s it. If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America” -President Johnson

Brief history of print media First newspaper:

Boston News-Letter, April 1704

Revolutionary War

Federalist Papers

1833, advent of the penny press

1837 – Telegraph invented

1848, creation of the Associated Press

Yellow journalism

Centralization of ownership of newspapers in early 20th century has continued

Print newspapers are QUICKLY dying out

History of the Mass Media: Radio

Radio Act of 1927Established the airwaves

as a public good, subject to governmental oversight

The Federal Communications Commission (1934)Fairness Doctrine

(1940s)

History of the Mass Media: Television

Unlike newspapers and radio stations, high costs dictated that almost from the beginning, TV stations were affiliated with networks, thus centralizing ownership

Ratings /profit driven, particularly cable

24-hours news explodes during the 1990s

The InternetA revolution for politicsBroadcasting is essentially freeNot a large audience, but a gigantic

potential audienceDirect channel between parties/candidates

and citizens

Media BiasThe Media IS UNDENIABLY biased

They do not randomly select what they cover

They choose when/where/how long to cover it

What about liberal v. conservative?Often unclear, even with specific news

outletsInvestigators carry own biases

Media BiasGeneral Trends

Ethno-centric foreign affairs coverageDependent on official sourcesIncumbents not challenged as often

Negativity and Scandal given much greater attention

A Closing NoteStewart on Crossfire

Chapters covered on the ExamFederalismPublic Opinion/InterestElectionsPartiesInterest GroupsMedia