Exam 2 Media

Process of transmitting info to large audience - Mass Media – Print Media – Broadcast Media (Electronic Communication)

• Totalitarian Regimes – Info only flows downward • Democratic Regimes – Info flows in two or more directions

• Gives the media more political freedom – However, it also makes media dependent on advertising – Market-driven journalism

• Report the news – Serves as a linkage mechanism – Media obtains info in a variety of ways – The tool of “gate-keeping” — Reporters and editors decide which information gets reported • Influencing Public Opinion – They choose how to cover a story • Setting the Political Agenda – Decide which issues government officials should discuss

• Oldest form of media in US • Historically (pre- 1830s) – Financed by parties –Yellow journalism (sensational and exaggerated stories) • Newspapers move toward independence

• Magazines differ from newspapers in – Frequency of publication – Nature of coverage (insurance) — Forums for opinion – More limited readership and circulation

• 1st electronic medium that brought people the news • FDR’s Fireside Chats • Modern: Talk radio, Podcasts

• From 1950 to 1960, US households with TVs skyrocketed from 9% to 87% • Now, virtually everyone has a TV (98%) • Changed the “game” of politics – Image matters – Nixon-Kennedy Debates • For many years, 3 networks dominated • Now, audiences are turning to alternative media

• The democratization of information – Increased the amount of information about politics available to average person • But, is the information always accurate/reliable? – False information spreads more quickly than the truth • Shorter stories, fewer details

Data

• Television Hypothesis: Increase in political knowledge – Did not happen from availability and entertaining

• Critics contend news is filtered/framed through ideological biases. – Bias of reporters – Bias of media owners/pundits • Can be subtle and/or unintentional • Other forms of bias – Horserace: who’s winning, who’s losing – Entertainment – Sensationalism: scandal, conflict, violence

• TV/Radio – Advertisements – “5 pin” biased portrayal in one’s favor • Internet – Candidate Websites — Informatiion — Fundraising — Advertising – Social Media

• Federal Communications Commission (FCC) – Agency that regulates broadcast media (radio and tv) • Fairness Doctrine – Requires broadcast media to present several points of view to ensure balanced coverage. – Eliminated in 1987 • Equal Time Provision – Requires broadcast media to provide equal airtime on any non-news programs to all candidates running for an office. m