Chap12

Chapter 12Chapter 12The Media The Media

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

have?have?2.2. Can we trust the media to be Can we trust the media to be

fair?fair?

TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?1.1. What public policies will the What public policies will the

media support?media support?

The Media and PoliticsThe Media and Politics Freedom of the PressFreedom of the Press The United States versus EuropeThe United States versus Europe Freedom of Information ActFreedom of Information Act Privately Held Media:Privately Held Media:

• NewspapersNewspapers• Radio and TelevisionRadio and Television

Federal Communication Commission Federal Communication Commission (FCC)(FCC)

powerlineblog.com. Reprinted by permission of Powerline.

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

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

Journalism in American Political Journalism in American Political HistoryHistory

The Party PressThe Party Press The Popular PressThe Popular Press Magazines of OpinionMagazines of Opinion Electronic JournalismElectronic Journalism The InternetThe Internet

Bettmann/Corbis

News used to come by radio, but today many people read newspapers on iPads and other electronic devices.

Pixellover RM 3/Alamy

Source: Nielsen Media Research, used under license. Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism, 2011 State of the News Media, http://stateofthemedia.org/2011/network-essay/.

Note: 18–34 readership represents the average of 18–24 readershipand 25–34 readership. 2006 data is through September

The Internet and PoliticsThe Internet and PoliticsIt is now easier to:It is now easier to: raise money in small donationsraise money in small donations organize people to attend meetingsorganize people to attend meetings take instant (unreliable?) opinion pollstake instant (unreliable?) opinion polls instantly criticize your opponentinstantly criticize your opponent mobilize local followersmobilize local followers target campaigners with the names of target campaigners with the names of

The Structure of the MediaThe Structure of the Media Degree of CompetitionDegree of Competition

The National MediaThe National Media• GatekeeperGatekeeper• ScorekeeperScorekeeper• WatchdogWatchdog

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 Confidentiality of SourcesConfidentiality of Sources Regulating BroadcastingRegulating Broadcasting Campaigning Campaigning

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

Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo

Senator Barack Obama campaigning for president in Los Angeles.

REUTERS/Jason Reed

Pew Research Center for the People Source: Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, “Press Accuracy Rating Hits Two-Decade Low: Public Evaluations of the News Media: 1985–2009,” September 2009, http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1341/press-accuracy-rating-hits-two-decade-low.

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?

Are the National Media Biased?Are the National Media Biased? A liberal majorityA liberal majority Neutral and objective?Neutral and objective?

• Routine storiesRoutine stories• Feature storiesFeature stories• Insider storiesInsider stories

Media’s influenceMedia’s influence• Selective attentionSelective attention

Government and the NewsGovernment and the News Prominence of the PresidentProminence of the President Coverage of CongressCoverage of Congress Why do we have so many news Why do we have so many news

leaks?leaks? Sensationalism in the mediaSensationalism in the media Government constraints on Government constraints on

journalistsjournalists

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

Brown Brothers

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

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

M E M O R A N D U MM E M O R A N D U MTo: To: Matthew Wilson, senatorMatthew Wilson, senatorFrom: From: Margaret Drinker, legislative assistantMargaret Drinker, legislative assistantSubject: Subject: Protecting journalistsProtecting journalists

The Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporterThe Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporterto testify does not violate the First Amendment to theto testify does not violate the First Amendment to theConstitution. But Congress could pass a law, similarConstitution. But Congress could pass a law, similarto that in many states, banning such testimony if itto that in many states, banning such testimony if itreveals a confidential source.reveals a confidential source.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Arguments for:Arguments for:

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

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

Arguments against:Arguments against:

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

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

Your decision:Your decision:

Support Bill?Support Bill?

Oppose Bill?Oppose Bill?

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