The Media

Chapter 12Chapter 12
The MediaThe Media

Copyright © 2011 CengageCopyright © 2011 Cengage
 WHO GOVERNS?WHO GOVERNS?
1.1. How much power do the media have?How much power do the media have?
2.2. Can we trust the media to be fair?Can we trust the media to be fair?
 TO WHAT ENDS?TO WHAT ENDS?
1.1. What public policies will the mediaWhat public policies will the media
support?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
 NewspapersNewspapers
 Radio and TelevisionRadio and Television
 Federal Communication CommissionFederal Communication Commission
(FCC)(FCC)

Journalism in American PoliticalJournalism 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
Before television and theBefore television and the
Internet, news came byInternet, news came by
radio, as here in 1939. p.radio, as here in 1939. p.
292292
Bettmann/Corbis

Blogs, both conservative andBlogs, both conservative and
liberal, have become anliberal, have become an
important form of politicalimportant form of political
advertising. p. 289advertising. p. 289
Powerlineblog.com. Reprinted with permission.
As appeared on www.dailykos.com. Reprinted with
permission.

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 – leastNewspapers – least
governmental regulationgovernmental regulation
 Radio and TV – mostRadio and TV – most
governmental regulationgovernmental regulation
 Confidentiality of SourcesConfidentiality of Sources
 Regulating BroadcastingRegulating Broadcasting
 CampaigningCampaigning
Activists urge Congress
to pass a law shielding
reporters from being
required to testify about
their sources. p. 296
Bebeto Matthews/AP Photo

Are the National Media Biased?Are the National Media Biased?
 Do members of the media have aDo members of the media have a
distinctive political attitude?distinctive political attitude?
 Does that attitude affect what theyDoes that attitude affect what they
write or say?write or say?
 Does what they write or say affectDoes 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 andNeutral and
objective?objective?
• Routine storiesRoutine stories
• Feature storiesFeature stories
• Insider storiesInsider stories
 Media’s influenceMedia’s influence
• Selective attentionSelective attention
Spanish-speaking voters have become
so important that candidates, such as
Hillary Clinton, run Spanish web sites. p.
299
Hillaryclinton.com

Figure 12.2 Public Perception ofFigure 12.2 Public Perception of
Accuracy in the MediaAccuracy in the Media
Source: Pew Research Center, “The People and the Press” (August 2007).

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 newsWhy do we have so many news
leaks?leaks?
 Sensationalism in the MediaSensationalism in the Media
 Government constraints onGovernment constraints on
journalistsjournalists

p. 303

When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media,When President Theodore Roosevelt cultivated the media,
reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304reporters usually were unknown and poorly paid. p. 304
Brown Brothers

Today, there are huge
gatherings held in a special
conference room, as on the
right. p. 305
In 1933, White House pressIn 1933, White House press
conferences were informalconferences were informal
affairs, as when reportersaffairs, as when reporters
gathered around Franklingathered around Franklin
Roosevelt’s desk in the OvalRoosevelt’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 M
To:To: Matthew Wilson, senatorMatthew Wilson, senator
From:From: Margaret Drinker, legislative assistantMargaret Drinker, legislative assistant
Subject:Subject: Protecting JournalistsProtecting Journalists
The Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporterThe Supreme Court has held that forcing a reporter
to testify does not violate the First Amendment to theto testify does not violate the First Amendment to the
Constitution. But Congress could pass a law, similarConstitution. But Congress could pass a law, similar
to that in many states, banning such testimony if itto that in many states, banning such testimony if it
reveals 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 the one1. Thirty-four states now have shield laws similar to the one
proposed by Congress.proposed by Congress.
2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being2. Effective journalism requires protecting sources from being
identified; without protection, a lot of important storiesidentified; without protection, a lot of important stories
would not be written.would not be written.

Arguments against:Arguments against:
1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know1. Every person accused in a criminal trial has a right to know
all of the evidence against him or her and to confrontall of the evidence against him or her and to confront
witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right.witnesses. A shield law would deprive people of this right.
2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak2. A shield law would allow any government official to leak
secret information with no fear of being detected.secret information with no fear of being detected.

Your decision:Your decision:
Support Bill?Support Bill?
Oppose Bill?Oppose Bill?

The Media

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