The document discusses several topics related to politics and the media, including: 1) Different views on the role and purpose of the media, such as providing what the public wants versus balancing public interests. 2) How journalists and media outlets determine what issues to cover and how to frame them, as well as potential biases. 3) The functions of the media, including serving as a link between government and the public, investigating issues, and acting as a watchdog. 4) How groups and politicians use the media in campaigns and how the media can influence elections. 5) The history and development of different media forms such as print, radio, television, and the internet.

1. Politics of the Media

2. What is meant by the Media? News organizations and journalists of either the print (newspapers, magazines), broadcast (TV, radio), or internet (websites, newsfeeds, blogs)

3. Pathways Past and Present: The Role of Profits Libertarian View The media should show what they think the public wants, with no worry about consequences Social Responsibility Theory The media needs to balance what the public wants with what’s good for it Who should control the media? Two views

4. How Journalists Report the News Agenda Setting The media’s ability to determine which issues will be covered, in what detail, and in what context--and conversely, to decide which stories are “not news” and thus will not be covered

5. Functions of the Media: Common-Carrier A link between the masses & government Problem: Politicians will attempt to manipulate the media, push a positive image of themselves or an issue “ Pseudo-Events” Appear spontaneous, but are scripted for appeal Groundbreakings, school ceremonies Teddy’s Bear

9. Functions of the Media: Surveillance / Watchdog The media has a watchdog role as the “eyes and ears of the world” Investigative reporting “ Muckraking” Exposing societal ills such as corruption Upton Sinclair’s, The Jungle Watergate Abu Ghraib

10. Functions of the Media: Surveillance / Watchdog U.S often regarded to have freest media Other countries: state-run news, or highly censored news, even in democracies IRNA: The national Police chief has verified confiscation of a number of squirrels, equipped with eavesdropping devices, on the Iraqi border. Reportedly, when asked about the confiscation of 14 spy squirrels, he stated, “I have heard about it, but I do not have precise information”. IRNA adds, “These squirrels were equipped by foreign intelligence services, but were captured two weeks ago by the Police”.

11. News Agency of the Republic of Iran (IRNA) The national Police chief has verified confiscation of a number of squirrels, equipped with eavesdropping devices, on the Iraqi border. Reportedly, when asked about the confiscation of 14 spy squirrels, he stated, “I have heard about it, but I do not have precise information”. IRNA adds, “These squirrels were equipped by foreign intelligence services, but were captured two weeks ago by the Police”.

12. How Groups Use the Media: Media in Campaigns How does the media affect campaigns? Determining “front-running candidates” Charging for advertising Televising debates Portraying charismatic politicians as more “electable”

13. Mass Media “ For it seems more certain now than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate”-Walter Cronkite, February 1968 “ That’s it. If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America” -President Johnson

14. History of the Mass Media: Print Media First newspaper: Boston News-Letter , April 1704 Avoided controversial issues Revolutionary War - newspapers abandon impartiality and work to build resistance to British policies; Federalist Papers 1833, advent of the penny press 1837 – Telegraph invented 1848, creation of the Associated Press Yellow journalism Centralization of ownership of newspapers in early 20th century has continued to this day Print newspapers are QUICKLY dying out

15. History of the Mass Media: Radio Radio Act of 1927 Established the airwaves as a public good, subject to governmental oversight The Federal Communications Commission created in 1934

16. History of the Mass Media: Television Unlike newspapers and radio stations, high costs dictated that almost from the beginning, TV stations were affiliated with networks, thus centralizing ownership Ratings /profit driven, particularly cable 24-hours news explodes during the 1990s

17. The Internet A revolution for politics Broadcasting is essentially free Not a large audience, but a gigantic potential audience Direct channel between parties/candidates and citizens

18. Blogs Quickly making mainstream media less relevant Authors usually have a particular bias Recognize this going in Act as a media and political watchdog Investigative reporting is growing among bloggers

19. Media Bias The Media IS UNDENIABLY biased They do not randomly select what they cover They choose when/where/how long to cover it What about liberal v. conservative? Often unclear, even with specific news outlets Investigators carry own biases

20. Media Bias General Trends Ethno-centric foreign affairs coverage Dependent on official sources Incumbents not challenged as often Negativity and Scandal given much greater attention

21. Evaluating Press Freedom Reporters Without Borders Evaluation is survey-based RSF Questions

22. Reporters Without Borders Problems: Does not account for country size U.S. violations on par with Tonga in the mid-2000s U.S. has many more “opportunities” to harass the media The ratio of reporters being harassed is far lower in the United States than in many countries that rank better

23. Reporters Without Borders Selection Bias Reporters do not randomly publish critical stories Journalists in repressive countries will avoid these, creating less of an opportunity to be harassed Tonga’s media practices “self-censorship”

24. Other Issues Legal framework not addressed Nature of the repressor is not distinguished Nature of imprisonment or crime is now distinguished (wasn’t previously)

25. Solution Make a ratio based on population For example, jailed reporters per 1 million people U.S. moves to top, Iceland drops to about 35 Still problematic Democracies, in particular the U.S., have a higher percentage of people working in the media – will still have more repression opportunities

26. U.S. Decline The Press Freedom Index can indicate a change in trends 2002: 17 th 2003: 31 st 2004: 22 nd 2005: 44 th 2006: 53 rd 2007: 48 th 2008: 36 th 2009: 20 th (“Obama Effect”)

27. Concerns under Obama Campaign: papers that endorsed McCain are booted from Obama’s campaign plane Audience “plant” (this isn’t new) Press corps abandoned Promised Information not made public (including bills, C-SPAN coverage of healthcare debate, Abu Ghraib photos) Foxnews “boycott” Lack of open press conferences

28. A Closing Note Stewart on Crossfire