chapter 12 the media. who governs? who governs? 1.how much power do the media have? 2.can we trust...

Chapter 12Chapter 12The Media The Media

WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?1.1. How much power do the media have?How much power do the media have?

2.2. Can we trust the media to be fair?Can we trust the media to be fair? TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?

1.1. What public policies will the media What public policies will the media support?support?

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

The Media and PoliticsThe Media and Politics

Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press=very difficult to prove =very difficult to prove libellibel

The United States versus EuropeThe United States versus Europe=much =much stricter/people who leak information get punishedstricter/people who leak information get punished

Freedom of Information Act=easy Freedom of Information Act=easy for press to for press to extract gov. informationextract gov. information

NewspapersNewspapers=no gov. permission to operate=no gov. permission to operate Radio and TelevisionRadio and Television=FCC must renew their =FCC must renew their

licenselicense Federal Communication Commission Federal Communication Commission

(FCC)=(FCC)=gov. agency/gives out liscencesgov. agency/gives out liscencesCopyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

Journalism in American Political Journalism in American Political HistoryHistory

The Party Press=govThe Party Press=gov..

Paid for them/expensivePaid for them/expensive

During early AmericaDuring early America The Popular PressThe Popular Press==

Telegraph/AP providedTelegraph/AP provided

Stories/printing papersStories/printing papers

Cheaper/grew/easy to accessCheaper/grew/easy to access Magazines of OpinionMagazines of Opinion=“yellow=“yellow

Journalism/wrote about politicsJournalism/wrote about politics

Reform/writers gained a national followingReform/writers gained a national following Electronic Journalism=Electronic Journalism=Radio1920s-40sRadio1920s-40s

Television/political talk showsTelevision/political talk shows The Internet=The Internet=Half of Americans get Half of Americans get

Political news /raise money/organize people/Political news /raise money/organize people/Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage

Before television and the Before television and the Internet, news came by Internet, news came by radio, as here in 1939. p. radio, as here in 1939. p. 292 292

Bettmann/Corbis

Blogs, both conservative and Blogs, both conservative and liberal, have become an liberal, have become an important form of political important form of political advertising. p. 289advertising. p. 289


Powerlineblog.com. Reprinted with permission.

As appeared on www.dailykos.com. Reprinted with permission.

The Structure of the MediaThe Structure of the Media

Degree of CompetitionDegree of Competition=lack of newspaper =lack of newspaper competition/young people don’t read political competition/young people don’t read political news as much/often more local news than nationalnews as much/often more local news than national

The National MediaThe National Media=US Associated Press/United =US Associated Press/United Press InternationalPress International• GatekeeperGatekeeper=influence what subjects become =influence what subjects become

national political news and for how longnational political news and for how long• ScorekeeperScorekeeper=keeps track of and makes =keeps track of and makes

political reputationspolitical reputations• WatchdogWatchdog=keep tabs on =keep tabs on

politicians/wrongdoingpoliticians/wrongdoing


Rules Governing the MediaRules Governing the Media Newspapers – least Newspapers – least

governmental regulationgovernmental regulation Radio and TV – most Radio and TV – most

governmental regulationgovernmental regulation

(FCC)(FCC) Campaigning Campaigning


Activists urge Congress to pass a law shielding reporters from being required to testify about their sources. p. 296

Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo

Confidentiality of SourcesConfidentiality of Sources

Some states allow Some states allow it/passed lawsit/passed laws

Most states/Federal Most states/Federal gov. do not allow it gov. do not allow it if in best interest of if in best interest of gov.gov.

Could go to jail if Could go to jail if you’re a reporteryou’re a reporter

Agree/Disagree?Agree/Disagree?


Regulating broadcastingRegulating broadcasting

Radio/TV needs a Radio/TV needs a FCC licenseFCC license

Renewable every 7 Renewable every 7 years radio/5 for years radio/5 for TVTV

Need to submit Need to submit your your programming/how programming/how you benefit your you benefit your communitycommunity

Deregulation Deregulation today=lowered today=lowered most with most with radio/more radio/more opinions on talk opinions on talk radioradio

Equal time Equal time rule=must sell rule=must sell equal time to equal time to both candidatesboth candidates


CampaigningCampaigning

Equal time Equal time rule=must be rule=must be charged same charged same rates as other rates as other candidatescandidates

Market=buy ads Market=buy ads campaign in campaign in specific areas/local specific areas/local ads vs national adsads vs national ads

Problem=horse-Problem=horse-race race journalism=media journalism=media focuses on who is focuses on who is ahead in polls vs ahead in polls vs position of the position of the candidatescandidates


Are the National Media Biased?Are the National Media Biased?

Do members of the media have a Do members of the media have a distinctive political attitude?distinctive political attitude?

Does that attitude affect what they Does that attitude affect what they write or say?write or say?

Does what they write or say affect Does what they write or say affect what citizens believe?what citizens believe?


When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media, reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304


Brown Brothers

Are the National Media Biased?Are the National Media Biased?

A liberal majorityA liberal majority Neutral and objective?Neutral and objective?

• Routine stories=media stories regularly Routine stories=media stories regularly coveredcovered

• Feature stories=reporters seek these Feature stories=reporters seek these out and publish themout and publish them

• Insider stories=cover things often a Insider stories=cover things often a secretsecret

Media’s influenceMedia’s influence• Selective attention=people Selective attention=people

remember/believe only what they want remember/believe only what they want toto

Copyright © 2011 engageCopyright © 2011 engage

Spanish-speaking voters have become so important that candidates, such as Hillary Clinton, run Spanish web sites. p. 299 Hillaryclinton.com

Figure 12.2 Public Perception of Figure 12.2 Public Perception of Accuracy in the MediaAccuracy in the Media


Source: Pew Research Center, “The People and the Press” (August 2007).

Government and the NewsGovernment and the News

Prominence of the president=press Prominence of the president=press secretary/goal to control the image secretary/goal to control the image of Pres.of Pres.

Coverage of Congress=senators use Coverage of Congress=senators use the press to get recognizedthe press to get recognized

Why do we have so many news Why do we have so many news leaks?=only if favorable/branches leaks?=only if favorable/branches compete for powercompete for power


Sensationalism in the MediaSensationalism in the Media

1980s sex and politics were govered 1980s sex and politics were govered (Gary Hart, Bill Clinton)(Gary Hart, Bill Clinton)

Since Watergate/Vietnam press has Since Watergate/Vietnam press has been adversaries of been adversaries of Government/competition in mediaGovernment/competition in media


Government constraints on Government constraints on JournalistsJournalists

15,000-20,000 congressional staffers 15,000-20,000 congressional staffers (Congressmen gets mad move on to another)(Congressmen gets mad move on to another)

4 ways Gov/press communicate4 ways Gov/press communicate 1. on the record (quote official by name)1. on the record (quote official by name) 2. off the record (what official says can’t be used)2. off the record (what official says can’t be used) 3. on background (what official says can be used 3. on background (what official says can be used

but can’t attribute to him by namebut can’t attribute to him by name 4. on deep background (what the official says can 4. on deep background (what the official says can

be used but not attributed to anyone)be used but not attributed to anyone)



p. 303


Today, there are huge gatherings held in a special conference room, as on the right. p. 305

In 1933, White House press In 1933, White House press conferences were informal conferences were informal affairs, as when reporters affairs, as when reporters gathered around Franklin gathered around Franklin Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Roosevelt’s desk in the Oval Office.Office.

Bettmann/Corbis

JASON REED/Reuters/Landov

Activity Pg. 176Activity Pg. 176

#1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, #1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 1411, 13, 14


Page 176

1. A1. A 4. E4. E 6. B6. B 7. A7. A 8. A8. A 9. B9. B 11. C11. C 13. C13. C 14. E14. E


WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U M

To: To: Matthew Wilson, senatorMatthew Wilson, senator

From: From: Margaret Drinker, legislative assistantMargaret Drinker, legislative assistant

Subject: Subject: Protecting JournalistsProtecting Journalists

The Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporterThe Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporter

to testify does not violate the First Amendment to theto testify does not violate the First Amendment to the

Constitution. But Congress could pass a law, similarConstitution. But Congress could pass a law, similar

to that in many states, banning such testimony if itto that in many states, banning such testimony if it

reveals a confidential source.reveals a confidential source.



Arguments for:Arguments for:

1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one 1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one proposed by Congress.proposed by Congress.

2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being 2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being identified; without protection, a lot of important stories identified; without protection, a lot of important stories would not be written.would not be written.



Arguments against:Arguments against:

1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know 1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know all of the evidence against him or her and to confront all of the evidence against him or her and to confront witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right.witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right.

2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak 2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak secret information with no fear of being detected.secret information with no fear of being detected.



Your decision:Your decision:

Support Bill?Support Bill?

Oppose Bill?Oppose Bill?


chapter 12 the media. who governs? who governs? 1.how much power do the media have? 2.can we trust...

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