Chapter 10 The Media

What do these organizations have in common?

What Makes Up the Media?

• Broadcast Media • TV

• Cable TV news networks….

Broadcast Media (con’t)

• ….And Radio

Print Media

• Newspapers…..

Print Media (cont)

• ….And News Magazines…

….And The Internet….

What Roles Do the Media Play in Government?

• Gatekeeper: They influence what subjects become national political issues and for how long.

• Watchdog: Investigates personalities and exposes scandals

• Scorekeeper: • Tracks political reputations and

candidacies• Cover elections as horse races rather than

choices of policy alternatives.• Media momentum during presidential

primary season is crucial

How Does the Media Influence Politics?

• National Conventions have been changed to fit the needs of TV broadcasts

• Candidates win nominations with media ads that bypass parties

• Interests groups use it to get items on the national agenda

How Do Politicians use the Media?

• Trial Balloons: Information sent to the media to gauge the public’s reaction.

• The President’s Press Secretary

Duties of the Press Secretary

• Brief the president on questions he is likely to be asked and …

• Meet regularly with reporters, putting a favorable “spin” on events and…

• Attempt to control the flow of news coming from the White House

Bias and the Decline in Public Trust of the Media

Government Influence on the Media

• Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press….• United States Constitution, Amendment I

BUT…There Are Legal Restrictions

• Defamation: (Libel and slander)• National Security: Troop movements

and highly secret issues can be censored

• Obscenity• “Clear and Present Danger”• Radio and TV rules are different….

Defamation

• New York Times v Sullivan (1964)• To be held responsible for libel of a public

official, the plaintiff must show that the newspaper printed the story with malice, i.e. “with reckless disregard for the truth.”

National Security

• New York Times v United States (1971) aka “The Pentagon Papers Case”

• “Prior Restraints” on the publication of info are illegal except in narrowly defined situations (Troop movements)

Obscenity

• Miller v California (1972)• Material is obscene if:

• It appeals to the prurient interests• It is patently offensive because it violates

contemporary community standards• It is without redeeming social value

“Clear and Present Danger

• Schenk v United States (1919) and • Abrams v United States (1919)

• Actions (or words) that incite someone to engage in actions that pose an immediate threat to government can be punished.

Radio and TV

• Licensed and regulated by the FCC that must be renewed periodically. Complaints about the station will prompt scrutiny in the renewal process.

• Campaigns:• Equal access for all candidates• Rates no more than the cheapest

commercial rate

• Telecommunications Act (1996)• A company may own as many as eight

radio stations in a large market (5 in a small market)

• May own as many stations as it wants nationwide

• Consequences: • A few companies own most stations

(Clearchannel owns over 1200)• Looser editorial restrictions mean a greater

variety of opinions can be found on radio