THE MEDIA & POLITICS

1. THE MEDIA & POLITICS

2. MASS MEDIA • Media—plural of medium which “is a tangible element like a newspaper, tv, radio, computer, book, movie, CD, or DVD–anything that can transmit information, which is the thing that passes through the medium.” • Means of communicating info gathered by journalists. • Press—more associated with process of gathering journalistic information.

3. MASS MEDIA • Print—Newspapers, Magazines, etc. • Radio • Television • Internet

4. Functions of the Media • Transmit political information from political actors to the public • Gatekeeping • Media makes decisions about what is news, and for how long • Watchdog function • Informal check in our political system • Media allows the public to keep tabs on behavior of elected officials • Expand scope of an issue • More media attention leads to higher levels of public knowledge about issue • This leads to more pressure on politicians

5. Grandpa’s Media • Media of the past was much more clear and concise, but not perfect. • Gatekeepers, such as editors, producers, prestigious journalists and even news anchors, controlled news content. • Traditional media is still controlled in this way.

6. Gatekeepers • Gatekeepers had a couple of effects: • Provided Stability • Consistency • Clarity • Political Information • Lacked Diversity • Limited Scope • Stifled New Ideas

7. Media Effectiveness Robert Dahl’s criteria for effective democratic processes: • Effective Participation • Equal & effective opportunities • Access • Enlightened Understanding • Way to understand political debate • Good information

8. Media’s Political History • Early Developments: • Colonial Press • Controlled by British Government • Not allowed to criticize government • Avoided ‘hot-button’ issues • Stamp Act • Taxed newspapers • In response newspapers rebelled • Party Press • Voice of political parties (not fair & balanced

9. Media’s Political History • Early Developments: • Elitist beginnings • Expensive to print & buy • Limited voters • High illiteracy • Penny Press • Technology • Advertising • Sensationalism • Began focus on ‘big stories’ to sell

10. Media’s Political History • Significant transitions: • Yellow Journalism/ Sensationalism • Sex & Violence • Large headlines • Yellow print • Muckraking/Investigative Journalism • Corporate & political scandals • Promoted progressive reforms • Professionalism • Journalists focused on detached and balanced reporting

11. Sabato’s Feeding Frenzy • Lapdog journalism (1941-1966) • Reporting that served and reinforced the political establishment. • Watchdog (1966-1974) • Scrutinized and checked the behavior of political elites by undertaking independent investigations into statements made by public officials. • Junkyard dog (1974 to present) • Reporting that is often and harsh, aggressive intrusive, where feeding frenzies flourish and gossip reaches print.

12. Causes of the Feeding Frenzy • Advances in media technology • Competitive pressure • Political events

13. Media’s Political History • Technology-driven changes: • Radio • 1st real mass medium • “War of the Worlds” broadcast • Television • Became powerful in 1950’s • Kennedy Assassination • Viet Nam and Watergate • Internet • Al Gore? • News web pages & blogs

14. New Media Technologies • Satellites • Cable TV • Narrowcasting (CNN, MTV, ESPN) vs. Broadcasting (NBC, CBS, ABC) • World Wide Web

15. Politics and the Internet • A Channel for Interactive Mass Participation in Politics. • Designed to Operate without Central Authority. • Political Websites Abound. • Fundraising over the Internet • Building Political Support • Attracting volunteers • Staying in touch with Constituents • Blogging • Internet Polling • Internet Voting?

16. What is News? Media scholar Doris A. Graber’s five characteristics newsworthy stories typically exhibit: • Conflict • Proximity • Timeliness & Originality • Relevance • Familiarity

17. What is News & Who Says? Who should you trust for news? • CNN • FOX News • The Networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) • The Daily Show

18. Infotainment • Soft news vs. hard news: • MTV • Entertainment Tonight • The Daily Show/Colbert Report • SNL • Profit Motive • Media is big business • Corporate ownership • PBS & NPR

19. Media Regulation FCC (Federal Communications Commission • Monopolies • Licensing • Public Service • Fair Treatment • Equal Time Rule/Right of Rebuttal • Libel (print) / Slander (spoken) • Prior Restraint

20. The Politics of the Media Modern tools and tactics: • Media Events • Photo Opportunities (Photo Ops) • Spin • Free media & paid media

21. Patterson’s Out of Order • Trends in media coverage of elections • Tone of coverage  Positive to negative • Style  Descriptive to interpretive • Issues  Policy issues to reporters’ issues

22. Patterson’s Out of Order Consequences • Tone of coverage  Positive to negative Consequence: Voters distrust candidates, government, media • Style  Descriptive to interpretive Consequence: Voters less informed • Issues  Policy issues to reporters’ issues Consequence: Voters adopt media frames/primes

23. Zaller’s Theory of Media Politics • Theory of campaign coverage needs to take into account the different interests of voters, media, and candidates • Voters: "Don’t waste my time"; "Tell me only what I need to know" • Candidates: Use journalists to "Get Our Story Out" • Journalists: Maximize their "voice" in the news