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Chapter 6The Media: 

Chapter 6 The Media

The Media: 

The Media The Media Industry and Government News Coverage Media Power in American Politics Media Power and Democracy The Citizens Role

The Media: 

The Media The media plays a tremendous role in shaping public opinion regarding certain events. As a result, it helps in shaping public policy.

Somalia 1993: 

Somalia 1993 American involvement in Somalia began and ended as a result of media influences. Images of starving children were an impetus to U.S. intervention. Images of U.S. military service personnel being dragged through the streets of Mogadishu helped end America’s involvement.

Mass Media: 

Mass Media The term mass media refers to the techniques employed in mass communication to transmit information to a heterogeneous and widely dispersed group. Print media communicate information through the publication of words and pictures Broadcast media communicate information electronically through sounds and images

Mass Media: 

Mass Media

Types of Media: 

Types of Media Television Radio Magazines Newspapers Movies Books Music

The Development of the Mass Media: 

The Development of the Mass Media The development of the mass media in the United States reflected the growth of the country, technological innovation, and shifting political attitudes about the scope of government.

Newspapers: 

Newspapers The newspapers operating during the American Revolution were initially organs of political parties (The Federalist Papers) By the 1830s, newspapers were largely independent and had mass circulation; by the 1890s, they also included entertainment fare (comics, advice, sport)

Newspapers: 

Newspapers Is still the most important source of news in the United States. The print media is important for two reasons: 1) the broadcast media rely upon leading newspapers to set the agenda 2) the print media is the prime source of news for educated and influential individuals.

Newspaper: 

Newspaper Thirty-two percent of Americans between the ages of 18-24 report that they get most of their news from TV and the newspaper (10% list newspapers as the only source). May now get news articles off the internet!

Television: 

Television Television technology spread after WWII and today reaches nearly every single home in the nation. Humiliating images of the body of an American Serviceman dragged through the streets of Mogadishu had a resounding impact on this country’s viewers

Television: 

Television 51% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 state that they get most of their news from television. Television covers relatively few topics and provides little depth of coverage. Television can be likened to a series of newspaper headlines connected to pictures

Organization and Ownership: 

Organization and Ownership Traditionally locally owned and operated Movement toward national ownership ABC is owned by Disney, NBC by General Electric, CBS by Westinghouse Electric, and CNN by Time Warner

Nationalization of the News: 

Nationalization of the News As a result, Americans are receiving the same news from the same perspective The local perspective is disappearing Exceptions can be found in news enclaves

Organization of the Media: 

Organization of the Media More than 3/4 of the daily newspapers in the United States are owned by large media conglomerates such as the Hearst Corporation. Most of the national news that is published is provided by the Associated Press (AP) Most radio station carry the same national news broadcasts There are only three truly national newspapers: the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and CSM.

Nationalization of the News: 

Nationalization of the News More or less, the national news media covers the same sets of events, present similar information, and emphasize similar issue and problems. Not true in the case of news enclaves in which subgroups of the population receive their news from other sources.

Regulation of the Broadcast Media: 

Regulation of the Broadcast Media The Media in the United States are not controlled by the government

Equal Time Rule: 

Equal Time Rule

Right of Rebuttal: 

Right of Rebuttal

Fairness Doctrine: 

Fairness Doctrine

Freedom of the Press: 

Freedom of the Press Unlike the broadcast media, the print media is essentially unregulated

News Coverage: 

News Coverage Journalists Sources of the News The Power of Consumers

News Coverage: Questions: 

News Coverage: Questions Can news stories be manipulated or influenced? How are media content and news coverage affected by the producers, subjects and consumers of the news?

Journalists: 

Journalists Journalists can shape the news by changing the angle of the story, the selection of interviewees/witnesses, the visual images, or the words used to tell the story

Sources of the News: 

Sources of the News The subject of the news story can manipulate the coverage by determining how the story is told or when the story is told

The Power of Consumers: 

The Power of Consumers The media must market their product to those individuals that are the targets of their advertisers: upscale consumers Accordingly, consumers can dictate the type of coverage they want read, hear or see

Media Power in American Politics: 

Media Power in American Politics Shaping Events The Sources of Media Power The Rise of Adversarial Journalism

Media Power in American Politics: Questions: 

Media Power in American Politics: Questions How do the media shape public perceptions of events, issues, and institutions? What are the sources of media power?

Shaping Events: 

Shaping Events The visual images produced by the media can move public opinion The Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and Watergate were all shaped in some by media coverage

The Sources of Media Power: 

The Sources of Media Power

The Rise of Adversarial Journalism: 

The Rise of Adversarial Journalism The relationship between the media and government has become increasingly adversarial over the last forty years Vietnam and Watergate clearly demonstrate a change in the way the media covers government

Media Power and Democracy:Questions: 

Media Power and Democracy: Questions Are the Media too powerful and thus need restriction? Conversely, are a free media necessary for democracy?

Media Power and Democracy: 

Media Power and Democracy The free media are an institution absolutely necessary to democratic government We depend on the media to serve as our watchdog

The Citizen’s Role: 

The Citizen’s Role We must become more active in our use of the media We should use the media as a source of information from which to act We will examine political activity as we discuss political parties, elections, and interest groups