The Mass Media

1. The Mass Media A.P. Government/Politics Lecture

2. Objective: What role does the mass media play in our understanding of politics and events?

3. What is the mass media? • Definition 1. mass media refers to “means of communication that are technologically capable of reaching most people and are economically affordable to most.” 2. these are generally considered newspapers and television 3. more specialized media such as weekly news magazines or talk radio usually augment newspapers and television

4. Media Functions • a. through general reporting the press is the main conduit of information between the governed and the government • b. through editorials and opinion writing, the media provide criticisms and contrasting views of politicians and policy • c. through investigative reporting the media serve the primary watchdogs that help to insure accountability and a system free from abuse • d. in sum, the media are the primary means by which citizens gain the requisite information needed to effectively participate in a democracy

5. What should our media be? • In short, in a democracy the expectation is that the media is an independent, objective, and vigilant institution

6. Media Reality • In reality, however, the media often does not fulfill these expectations • throughout much of our history, various newspapers were either owned or at least highly supportive of local politicians and machines • just as politicians need the press, so does the press need the politicians to serve as sources, offer quotes creating a symbiotic relationship • With more specialized media outlets, individuals can now simply access information that reinforces instead of challenges existing beliefs • It is unclear how useful the information that the media provides in terms of informing the citizenry • focus on the trivial, scandals, and the horserace instead of providing more substantive coverage • profit oriented instead of concerned about being a force in democracy

7. Contemporary Media Culture • In theory, the government is expected to regulate the public airwaves in the public interest in hopes of encouraging balanced and fair dialogue • restricting ownership to limit media monopolies • use of equal time and fairness doctrines to insure all view points are presented to the public • Justice Hugo Black, in a landmark media-ownership case in 1945, wrote: "The First Amendment rests on the assumption that the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the welfare of the public."

8. Government and the Media Today • More recently, however, the government has moved away from media regulator to media advocate • the government simply gives away the public airwaves to commercial broadcasters with minimal licensing requirements • loosening ownership regulations to such a significant degree that independent media ownership has all but vanished • in 1987 the Reagan administration eliminated the equal time doctrine which obligated any news organization that presents political opinions to allow all sides to have an equal say • The end result of this shift from regulator to enabler is profound • today we have more outlets but less diversity because the six largest media companies in the world now own of 80% of all media content and outlets