The Mass Media and the Political Agenda Chapter 7 Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry Government in America: People, Politics, and Policy Fourteenth Edition.

The Mass Media The Mass Media and theand thePolitical Political AgendaAgenda

Chapter 7Chapter 7

Edwards, Wattenberg, and LineberryEdwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry

Government in America: People, Politics, and PolicyGovernment in America: People, Politics, and Policy

Fourteenth EditionFourteenth Edition

IntroductionIntroductionMass MediaMass Media::

Television, radio, newspapers, Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet and other magazines, the Internet and other means of popular communicationmeans of popular communication

High-Tech PoliticsHigh-Tech Politics::

Politics in which the behavior of citizens Politics in which the behavior of citizens and policymakers and the political and policymakers and the political agenda itself are increasingly shaped agenda itself are increasingly shaped by technologyby technology

The Mass Media TodayThe Mass Media Today

Effective communication through media is key Effective communication through media is key to political success.to political success.

Media EventsMedia Events: :

Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless look spontaneous.look spontaneous.

Image MakingImage Making

News ManagementNews Management

The Impact of the InternetThe Impact of the InternetWider range of informationWider range of information

More biased? Less accurate? More biased? Less accurate?

Potential to inform?Potential to inform?

Since Americans are generally Since Americans are generally disinterested in politics, they will not disinterested in politics, they will not necessarily use the Internet for necessarily use the Internet for political information. (2% News)political information. (2% News)

BlogsBlogsadditional information / opinion additional information / opinion

Private Control of the MediaPrivate Control of the Media

Only a small number of TV stations Only a small number of TV stations are publicly owned in America.are publicly owned in America.

Media are totally dependent on Media are totally dependent on advertising revenues.advertising revenues.

ChainsChains: : Account for over four-fifths of the Account for over four-fifths of the

nation’s daily newspaper circulationnation’s daily newspaper circulation

Also control broadcast mediaAlso control broadcast media

Reporting the NewsReporting the NewsBeatsBeats: :

specific locations from which news specific locations from which news frequently emanates.frequently emanates.

Trial BalloonsTrial Balloons: :

an intentional news leak for the purpose of an intentional news leak for the purpose of assessing the political reactionassessing the political reaction

Reporters and their sources…Reporters and their sources…

depend on each other.depend on each other.

Presenting the NewsPresenting the News SuperficialSuperficial describes most news coverage today. describes most news coverage today. Sound BitesSound Bites: short video clips of approximately 10 seconds: short video clips of approximately 10 seconds

Major TV networks devote less time to covering political Major TV networks devote less time to covering political candidatescandidates

Bias in the NewsBias in the News

Many people believe the news is Many people believe the news is biased in favor of one point of view.biased in favor of one point of view.

Generally is Generally is notnot very biased toward a very biased toward a particular ideologyparticular ideology

News reporting is biased towards what News reporting is biased towards what will draw the largest audience—good will draw the largest audience—good pictures and negative reportingpictures and negative reporting

Partisan BiasPartisan Bias

Back

The News and Public The News and Public OpinionOpinionTelevision news Television news

Agenda-settingAgenda-setting effect effect

Provides Provides criteriacriteria

Which the public evaluates political leaders.Which the public evaluates political leaders.

Provides coverageProvides coverage

Some stories or events can be made more Some stories or events can be made more important or less important.important or less important.

The Media’s Agenda-Setting FunctionThe Media’s Agenda-Setting FunctionPolicy AgendaPolicy Agenda

The issues that attract the serious attention The issues that attract the serious attention of public officials and other people of public officials and other people actively involved in politics at the timeactively involved in politics at the time

Policy EntrepreneursPolicy Entrepreneurs

People who get an issue placed high on People who get an issue placed high on governmental agendagovernmental agenda

Use media to raise awareness of issueUse media to raise awareness of issue

The Media and the Scope of GovernmentThe Media and the Scope of Government

Media as Media as watchdogwatchdog restricts politicians restricts politicians

Government met with Government met with skepticismskepticism which which restricts scope of governmentrestricts scope of government

If media If media identifiesidentifies a problem, it forces a problem, it forces government to address it, which government to address it, which expands the scope of governmentexpands the scope of government

Individualism and the MediaIndividualism and the MediaCandidates appeal to people on televisionCandidates appeal to people on television

Easier to focus on one person like the president, Easier to focus on one person like the president, than groups, e.g., Congress or the courtsthan groups, e.g., Congress or the courts

Democracy and the MediaDemocracy and the Media““Information is the fuel of democracy.”Information is the fuel of democracy.”

But news provides more entertainment than But news provides more entertainment than information; superficial.information; superficial.

News is a business, News is a business, giving people what they wantgiving people what they want..

SummarySummary Media shape Media shape public opinionpublic opinion on political on political

issues and influence issues and influence policy agendapolicy agenda..

Broadcast mediaBroadcast media have replaced have replaced print mediaprint media over time.over time.

Narrowcasting and the Internet are further Narrowcasting and the Internet are further shifting media.shifting media.

Seeking profits, media are biased in favor of Seeking profits, media are biased in favor of stories with high drama.stories with high drama.

Additional Info - THE MASS MEDIAAdditional Info - THE MASS MEDIAThe Fourth Branch of Government - “The Mass Media”?The Fourth Branch of Government - “The Mass Media”?

NewspapersNewspapers98 % 1 paper cities - 78 % of circulation by chains98 % 1 paper cities - 78 % of circulation by chains

National weekly National weekly magazines (Time,USN, Newsweek)magazines (Time,USN, Newsweek)Can set national agendaCan set national agenda

Wire servicesWire services (AP, UPI) employ reporters worldwide (AP, UPI) employ reporters worldwideUsed by more newspapers today (cut costs)Used by more newspapers today (cut costs)

Electronic Media Electronic Media (Radio, TV, Cable, Internet)(Radio, TV, Cable, Internet)

The Federal Communications CommissionThe Federal Communications Commission ( (FCCFCC))Regulates broadcast ownership & contentRegulates broadcast ownership & content

Almost all media are Almost all media are privately ownedprivately ownedOwnership has become less Ownership has become less diversifieddiversified

Remy Summary-A

CH 19- THE MASS MEDIACH 19- THE MASS MEDIAWhat makes “news” ?What makes “news” ?

Information that is “useful” (gov/econ/bus)Information that is “useful” (gov/econ/bus)Information that is “popular” (entertainment)Information that is “popular” (entertainment)

The President -80 % of nat. gov. media coverageThe President -80 % of nat. gov. media coverageTV has great impact presidential campaignsTV has great impact presidential campaigns

Focus on key leaders in CongressFocus on key leaders in Congress The First Amendment (Freedom of the Press) The First Amendment (Freedom of the Press)

No No prior restraintprior restraintNational securityNational security exceptions exceptions National security v citizen’s right to National security v citizen’s right to

knowknowPentagon PapersPentagon Papers (1971) (1971)

No laws against criticizing government officialsNo laws against criticizing government officialsShield lawsShield laws in some states (36 states, Ohio = in some states (36 states, Ohio = Yes)Yes)

Remy Summary-B

ERAS OF THE AMERICAN PRESSERAS OF THE AMERICAN PRESS

PARTY PRESSPARTY PRESSPARTIES STARTED & SUPPORTED PARTIES STARTED & SUPPORTED NEWSPAPERSNEWSPAPERS

POPULAR PRESSPOPULAR PRESSMASS CIRCULATIONMASS CIRCULATION

““YELLOW JOURNALISM”, YELLOW JOURNALISM”, “MUCKRAKERS”“MUCKRAKERS”

MAGAZINES OF OPINIONMAGAZINES OF OPINIONMIDDLE CLASS PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENTMIDDLE CLASS PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT

ELECTRONIC JOURNALISMELECTRONIC JOURNALISMRAPID NEWS REPORTINGRAPID NEWS REPORTINGCHANGED THE WAY WE VIEWED POLITICIANSCHANGED THE WAY WE VIEWED POLITICIANS

NON-Edwardian Info

POPULARPOPULARPRESSPRESS

“YELLOW“YELLOWJOURNALISM”JOURNALISM”

TABLOID TABLOID NEWSNEWS

SENSATIONALISMSENSATIONALISM

Circulation monthly Circulation monthly declinedecline

WHO READ THE NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY ?WHO READ THE NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY ?

WHICH NEWSPAPERS ARE WHICH NEWSPAPERS ARE READ EACH DAYREAD EACH DAY

WHO READ THE NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY?WHO READ THE NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY?

Where Americans Get NewsWhere Americans Get News

Back

News Generation GapNews Generation Gap

Back

Sources of Campaign NewsSources of Campaign News

Back

A FREE PRESS IS RARE IN THE WORLDA FREE PRESS IS RARE IN THE WORLD

(17% OF THE NATIONS)(17% OF THE NATIONS)

GOVERNMENT RESTRAINTS ON THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENT RESTRAINTS ON THE AMERICAN MEDIAMEDIA

LIBEL, OBSCENITY, INCITEMENTLIBEL, OBSCENITY, INCITEMENT

(BUT NO PRIOR RESTRAINT ?)(BUT NO PRIOR RESTRAINT ?)

GOV’T CONTROL OVER RADIO AND TV GOV’T CONTROL OVER RADIO AND TV BY THE F.C.C.BY THE F.C.C.LICENSINGLICENSINGDECENCY STANDARDSDECENCY STANDARDS

GOV’T INFLUENCE ON THE NEWSGOV’T INFLUENCE ON THE NEWSLEAKSLEAKS

(TRIAL BALLOONS, PERSONAL ATTACKS)(TRIAL BALLOONS, PERSONAL ATTACKS)

BACKGROUND STORIESBACKGROUND STORIES(INSIDER INFORMATION)(INSIDER INFORMATION)

PUNITIVE MEASURESPUNITIVE MEASURES

THE NATIONAL PRESS IS THE NATIONAL PRESS IS STAFF BY PEOPLE WHO STAFF BY PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE LIBERAL ARE MORE LIBERAL THAN THE PUBLIC IN THAN THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.GENERAL.

(AND MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE)(AND MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE)

MASS MEDIA MAY NOT REFLECT MASS MEDIA MAY NOT REFLECT REALITYREALITY

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SLANTING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SLANTING THE NEWSNEWS

1-SELECTION OF NEWS TO COVER1-SELECTION OF NEWS TO COVER

70% IS PREPLANNED (THOM. 70% IS PREPLANNED (THOM. DYE)DYE)

2-WRITING AND EDITING PROCESS2-WRITING AND EDITING PROCESS

3-INTERPRETATION OF THE NEWS3-INTERPRETATION OF THE NEWS

4-EMPHASIS OF THE NEWS4-EMPHASIS OF THE NEWS

Media BiasMedia Bias

Questions about effects of media bias.Questions about effects of media bias.

Media bias unavoidable--journalists are human.Media bias unavoidable--journalists are human.

Media generally thought to be liberal.Media generally thought to be liberal.

Recent growth of conservative news sources.Recent growth of conservative news sources.

Looking at good stories over issues.Looking at good stories over issues.

Can be charmed by interesting personalities.Can be charmed by interesting personalities.

Confidence in the MediaConfidence in the Media

General confidence is on a downturn.General confidence is on a downturn.

Republicans are more critical than Democrats.Republicans are more critical than Democrats.

Democrats and Republicans use different sources.Democrats and Republicans use different sources.

Ideological fragmentation may be cause for Ideological fragmentation may be cause for

concern.concern.

People tend to choose news that supports their People tend to choose news that supports their

opinion.opinion.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIATHE INFLUENCE OF THE MEDIA

IS QUESTIONABLEIS QUESTIONABLE

SHALLOW INFORMATIONSHALLOW INFORMATION

““SOUND BITES”SOUND BITES”

SELECTIVE VIEWINGSELECTIVE VIEWING

WATCH WHAT WE AGREE WATCH WHAT WE AGREE WITHWITH

THE MEDIA DOES INFLUENCE THE POLICY THE MEDIA DOES INFLUENCE THE POLICY AGENDAAGENDA

ROLES OF THE PRESSROLES OF THE PRESS

*GATEKEEPER*GATEKEEPER

DECIDING WHAT IS NEWSDECIDING WHAT IS NEWS

*SCOREKEEPER*SCOREKEEPER

DECIDING WHO IS DECIDING WHO IS “WINNING”“WINNING”

*WATCHDOG*WATCHDOG

EXPOSING “SCANDLES”EXPOSING “SCANDLES”

LOADED WORDSREPETITION

Presidential Press ConferencesPresidential Press Conferences

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THE MEDIATHE MEDIA

IMPORTANT TERMSIMPORTANT TERMSASSOCIATED PRESSASSOCIATED PRESSATTACK JOURNALISMATTACK JOURNALISMCANNED NEWSCANNED NEWSCOMMUNITY NEEDSCOMMUNITY NEEDSEQUAL-TIME RULEEQUAL-TIME RULEFAIRNESS DOCTRINEFAIRNESS DOCTRINEFEATURE STORIESFEATURE STORIESFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)INSIDER STORIESINSIDER STORIESLOADED LANGUAGELOADED LANGUAGEMARKET (TELEVISION)MARKET (TELEVISION)MUCKRAKERMUCKRAKER

LOADED LANGUAGELOADED LANGUAGEMARKET (TELEVISION)MARKET (TELEVISION)MUCKRAKERMUCKRAKEROFF THE RECORDOFF THE RECORDON BACKGROUNDON BACKGROUNDRECKLESS DISREGARDRECKLESS DISREGARDRIGHT-OF-REPLY RULERIGHT-OF-REPLY RULESELECTIVE ATTENTIONSELECTIVE ATTENTIONSOUND BITESOUND BITETRAIL BALLOONTRAIL BALLOON““YELLOW JOURNALISM”YELLOW JOURNALISM”

THE MEDIA THE MEDIA IMPORTANT TERMSIMPORTANT TERMS

THE MEDIATHE MEDIA

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS1-DOES THE DESIRE OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS TO 1-DOES THE DESIRE OF AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS TO

BE “OBJECTIVE” MAKE AMERICANS LESS BE “OBJECTIVE” MAKE AMERICANS LESS INFORMED? SHOULD THE UNITED STATES HAVE INFORMED? SHOULD THE UNITED STATES HAVE THE PARTY PRESS LIKE MANY EUROPEAN NATIONS?THE PARTY PRESS LIKE MANY EUROPEAN NATIONS?

2-DOES A POPULAR PRESS PANDER TO THE LOWEST 2-DOES A POPULAR PRESS PANDER TO THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR OF INTEREST AND TASTE?COMMON DENOMINATOR OF INTEREST AND TASTE?

3-EXPLAIN HOW LOCALISM & DECENTRALIZED 3-EXPLAIN HOW LOCALISM & DECENTRALIZED QUALITIES OF THE AMERICAN NEWS MEDIA QUALITIES OF THE AMERICAN NEWS MEDIA CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY?CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROMOTION OF DEMOCRACY?

4-IF MOST REPORTERS HOLD LIBERAL VIEWS WHY 4-IF MOST REPORTERS HOLD LIBERAL VIEWS WHY HASN’T AMERICAN SOCIETY BECOME MORE HASN’T AMERICAN SOCIETY BECOME MORE LIBERAL OVER THE YEARS?LIBERAL OVER THE YEARS?

5-DEFINE THE WATCHDOG ROLE OF 5-DEFINE THE WATCHDOG ROLE OF THE PRESS. IS IT GOOD OR BAD FOR THE PRESS. IS IT GOOD OR BAD FOR DEMOCRACY?DEMOCRACY?

6-WHAT SORT OF ISSUES WOULD YOU 6-WHAT SORT OF ISSUES WOULD YOU EXPECT THE MEDIA TO HAVE THE EXPECT THE MEDIA TO HAVE THE MOST IMPACT?MOST IMPACT?

7- WHAT LIMITS SHOULD THERE BE ON 7- WHAT LIMITS SHOULD THERE BE ON FREEDOM OF THE PRESS?FREEDOM OF THE PRESS?

AP - THE MEDIAAP - THE MEDIAQUESTIONSQUESTIONS