Politics and the Politics and the MediaMedia

Raise your hand if you get your news Raise your hand if you get your news from the following places at least once from the following places at least once

a week …a week …NewspapersNewspapers

Radio Radio

Network news (ABC, CBS, NBC)Network news (ABC, CBS, NBC)

Cable News (CNN, FOX, MSNBC)Cable News (CNN, FOX, MSNBC)

Internet NewsInternet News

Political Satire (The Daily show, Colbert Political Satire (The Daily show, Colbert Report, SNL)Report, SNL)

Mass Media in the US.Mass Media in the US.

Newspapers Newspapers earliest form of earliest form of media.media. They were SLOW!They were SLOW!

Mass Media in the USMass Media in the US

Technology made daily papers availableTechnology made daily papers availableMedia Corporations began to consolidate Media Corporations began to consolidate power power Struggle between two roles of JournalismStruggle between two roles of Journalism

Truth ReportingTruth ReportingMedia BusinessMedia Business

Yellow Journalism – Yellow Journalism – Sensational style of Sensational style of reporting characterized newspapers at the reporting characterized newspapers at the turn of the century. Used to sway political turn of the century. Used to sway political opinion and sell newspapers.opinion and sell newspapers.

Media History (Cont)Media History (Cont)

Telegraph brought about advent of the Telegraph brought about advent of the “Wire Service” “Wire Service”

Companies hired to reporters to cover Companies hired to reporters to cover stories that were sold to local papers.stories that were sold to local papers. AP, Reuters, UPI, BloombergAP, Reuters, UPI, Bloomberg

Media History (Cont)Media History (Cont)

The Emergence of Radio and TelevisionThe Emergence of Radio and Television PoliticiansPoliticians’’ appearances and mannerisms appearances and mannerisms

more important like events such as the more important like events such as the Kennedy-Nixon presidential debates.Kennedy-Nixon presidential debates.

Early networks had monopoly on coverage Early networks had monopoly on coverage and had strict rules on fairness and Equal and had strict rules on fairness and Equal Time. Time.

Kennedy /Nixon 1960 Kennedy /Nixon 1960

Media History Media History

3 Networks – Narrow sources of News3 Networks – Narrow sources of News Brought government and politics into peoplesBrought government and politics into peoples’’

homes with events like the Vietnam War.homes with events like the Vietnam War.

Introduction of Cable News and 24 hour Introduction of Cable News and 24 hour cyclecycle

CNN First Broadcast 1980CNN First Broadcast 1980

Media History (Cont)Media History (Cont)

Cable News- Dilution of viewership allowed for Cable News- Dilution of viewership allowed for “Niche Journalism” or …“Niche Journalism” or …

Narrowcasting - Narrowcasting - Media program on cable TV or Media program on cable TV or Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed Internet that is focused on one topic and aimed at a particular audience.at a particular audience.

24 hour news cycle has led to a desire for more 24 hour news cycle has led to a desire for more content … What is news?content … What is news?

News companies need to have viewers to make News companies need to have viewers to make money. money. Tabloid cultureTabloid culture driven by ratings. driven by ratings.

Ownership of the MediaOwnership of the Media

The media are profit-driven businesses.The media are profit-driven businesses. News outlets are expected to make a profit, News outlets are expected to make a profit,

just like other corporate divisions.just like other corporate divisions. Advertising revenues depend on drawing a Advertising revenues depend on drawing a

large audience.large audience.

Ownership of the MediaOwnership of the Media

All of these All of these channels are channels are owned by one owned by one company.company.

Logos depicted are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Ownership of the MediaOwnership of the Media

All of these All of these channels and channels and papers are papers are owned by one owned by one company.company.

Logos depicted are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Media History (Cont)Media History (Cont)

1960’s and Watergate Scandal led to a 1960’s and Watergate Scandal led to a distrust of the government. distrust of the government. Media saw it’s role as investigator Media saw it’s role as investigator increase. increase. Internet led to more diffusion of news Internet led to more diffusion of news sources. sources. Internet is purposive – People choose what to Internet is purposive – People choose what to

learn about.learn about.

Blogs are becoming a populist media Blogs are becoming a populist media

LO 7.2

To Learning ObjectivesCopyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Publishing as Longman

Sound BitesSound BitesShort video clips, not long segments.Short video clips, not long segments.

Keeps news programs fast-paced and interesting.Keeps news programs fast-paced and interesting.

Debates : Political MinefieldsDebates : Political Minefields

Politicians and the mediaPoliticians and the media

Media Events/ Photo Media Events/ Photo Ops (Opportunity)Ops (Opportunity) Scheduled events that Scheduled events that

put candidate or put candidate or politician in a favorable politician in a favorable position.position.

Image is carefully Image is carefully managed and managed and maintained. maintained.

Media’s Role in DemocracyMedia’s Role in Democracy

InformerInformer- Provide public with current and - Provide public with current and accurate information of what is going on. accurate information of what is going on.

Watch Dog-Watch Dog- A free media is essential to a A free media is essential to a democracy because it checks the power of democracy because it checks the power of Govt. with information.Govt. with information.

A Voice-A Voice- Media allows a conduit for the Media allows a conduit for the voice of the people as well as the voice of the people as well as the government. government.

President’s Press SecretaryPresident’s Press Secretary

White house has White house has dedicated media dept. dedicated media dept. led by Press Sec.led by Press Sec.

Acts as voice of Acts as voice of AdministrationAdministration

Political position Political position

GaffesGaffes

Media Bias (Some Examples)Media Bias (Some Examples)

Card-stackingCard-stacking

OmissionOmission

Medium bias Medium bias

Fairness BiasFairness Bias

Expediency BiasExpediency Bias

Narrative BiasNarrative Bias

Commercial BiasCommercial Bias

Were it left to me to decide whether we Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.moment to prefer the latter.

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

““I Have a Scream”: I Have a Scream”: Howard Dean and the Howard Dean and the

MediaMedia

Case Study:Case Study:

Special Topic Lecture

Chapter 7: The Mass Media and

the Political Agenda

Edwards, Wattenberg, and LineberryEdwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry

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

Fourteenth EditionFourteenth Edition

Dean’s ScreamDean’s Scream

After the Iowa Caucus in 2004, Dean makes After the Iowa Caucus in 2004, Dean makes his “I Have a Scream” speech.his “I Have a Scream” speech.

Dean’s campaign collapsed after extensive Dean’s campaign collapsed after extensive (633 national airings in four days)(633 national airings in four days) media media coverage of the scream.coverage of the scream.

The problem: what brought about the The problem: what brought about the media’s feeding frenzy?media’s feeding frenzy?

Dean Scream Dean Scream

Reporters and BiasReporters and Bias

Liberal Media?Liberal Media? Most journalists want to be first and Most journalists want to be first and

foremost good journalists.foremost good journalists.Professional ethics: good journalism must “tell Professional ethics: good journalism must “tell both sides” and be free of opinion.both sides” and be free of opinion.Role of journalism is to inform the public.Role of journalism is to inform the public.

Dean was the most liberal mainstream Dean was the most liberal mainstream candidate.candidate.

Why would the “liberal” media attack a Why would the “liberal” media attack a liberal candidate?liberal candidate?

Reporters and BiasReporters and Bias

What does being a journalist means to What does being a journalist means to journalists?journalists?

Horse Race CoverageHorse Race Coverage

Focus on strategy and competition, not issues.Focus on strategy and competition, not issues. Exciting to political junkies who watch the news.Exciting to political junkies who watch the news.

See figure 9.1 in

the Brief Edition.

Dean’s ScreamDean’s Scream

Dean’s scream made good television.Dean’s scream made good television. The media shows stories that people will The media shows stories that people will

watch.watch. People like to see politicians look like fools.People like to see politicians look like fools. The media took advantage because it would The media took advantage because it would

increase ratings and thereby increase increase ratings and thereby increase advertising revenue.advertising revenue.

American Media and DemocracyAmerican Media and Democracy

Is the media the “watchdog of Is the media the “watchdog of democracy”?democracy”?

News provides more entertainment than News provides more entertainment than information.information.

The media gives the people what they want, The media gives the people what they want, not what is good for them.not what is good for them.

. . . a problem inherent in democracy, generally.. . . a problem inherent in democracy, generally.

Herman Cain –The Daily Show Herman Cain –The Daily Show

Mission AccomplishedMission Accomplished

Rick Perry’s New HampshireRick Perry’s New Hampshire

Biden Biden

Jon Stewart and Fox Jon Stewart and Fox