Chapter 14: The Media

FCC

Federal Communications Commission. Created in 1934 by the Communications Act, regulates U.S. interstate and international communications 1. licences radio and television broadcast services 2. oversees wireless communications 3. enforces legislation concerning communications 4. educates public about telecommunications

How has the Internet affected news?

countless new sources of info on gov't and politics. Allows ppl to bypass major networks altogether for alternative online outlets like Drudge Report or Huffington Post

What trend appeared in paid subscriptions to leading newspapers between 2008 and 2009?

sharp decrease in paid subscriptions.

What is reshaping the role of both print and digital media in breaking news?

speed at which news can spread on the internet

Areas of focus in local news?

stories that take place close to home. Criminal incidents and human interest. Interviews with community residents and items of high entertainment value (sports, celebs, health, movie reviews, fashion)

What demographics are least likely to read newspapers?

under 35, Latinos

Demographics of Americans who get their news online.

1. Young (18-29) 2. more educated. Most internet users have a college degree.

Techniques used by media to influence public opinion and politics?

1. agenda setting 2. priming 3. framing 4. persuasion

drawbacks of new media?

1. with so many outlets for news, politicians struggle to gague the importance and relevance of national events. 2. outlets lacking pro standards of journalism pay close attention to the private lives and personalities of politicians

Gazette of the United States

A biweekly publication that printed many contributions by Alexander Hamilton and supported the Washington administration

who was Howard Dean?

little-known governor of vermont who, in 2004, became first presidential candidate to largely use new media resources like blogging to propel his campaign into the national spotlight and garner base of support among young voters

How did priming affect the 2008 presidential election?

media devoted coverage to economic recession, priming ppl to vote for the candidate who would best be able to help recovery. Against a backdrop of a 2 term Republican administration that saw the burst of the housing bubble and near collapse of financial industry, Democrats enjoyed presidential and congressional electoral victories.

How does tv news coverage differ by source?

national and local news broadcasts have different areas of focus.

PBS

Public Broadcasting System. Corporation consisting of hundreds of television stations that offer educationally centered programming

What was the name of the first American newspaper and how long did it last?

Publick Occurrences Both Forreign and Domestick. Only one issue

actual malice standard

Requires public figures who sue press outlets for defamation of character to prove that the news source intended "actual malice." Malice refers to knowledge of falsity and reckless disregard for truth.

What do Americans expect of the media?

accurate and credible coverage stemming from awareness that the press in our country is protected from censorship.

Newspapers in the late 1800s?

aimed at capturing larger audiences. Newsboys sold paper on streets, journalists engaged in yellow journalism. Papers included comic strips, advertising, games, and contests to appeal to those of low literacy and growing immigrant population

How did TV contrast with radio as a news source?

brought the reality of images and video to Americans everywhere. Especially in the Vietnam war. Brought horrific images of war into living rooms across the country.

What role did C-SPAN play in the health care reform legislation?

congressional leadership wanted health care reform negotiated behind closed doors. C-SPAN requested that final negotiations be open to cameras, as health care is legislation that affects every American

Why does the press have such a powerful influence on politics?

can lead individuals to change their attitudes about public policy

Who is most likely to be persuaded?

those with little political knowledge are less likely to be steered by their ideological bias and more susceptible to persuasion.

How have political candidates reacted to the growing popularity of infotainment?

they recognize the influence of these programs and often make guest appearances

what media is subject to the greatest regulation?

broadcast media, because they use publicly owned airwaves

What did Thomas Jefferson say about the press?

"the press is the best instrument for enlightening the mind of man, and improving him as a rational, moral, and social being"

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)

Supreme Court established the actual malice standard for cases involving charges of libel

What percentage of ppl aged 18-29 reported accessing news from digital platforms in 2012?

60%

ideological makeup of O'Reilly Factor audience?

65% conservative

What age group of Americans is most likely to access the news on any day?

65+

ideological makeup of Hannity and Colmes audience?

68% conservative

ideological makeup of the Rush Limbaugh audience?

80% conservative

In what country is the press most highly regulated?

China

How did early American newspapers play a key role in the genesis of the new nation?

Dozens of papers by journalists in New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia spread discontent against the British Crown and later broadened the debate surrounding ratification of the Constitution.

How have news cooperatives changed from little audience interaction?

Evolution of the press from traditional modes that allow for little audience interaction to a range of new media (internet) that encourage a dynamic relationship between the news and its consumers

What news station do Republicans mostly watch?

Fox News

who was Ted Turner?

In 1980, launched CNN, which was the first channel to offer 24-hour news coverage

What news station do Democrats mostly watch?

MSNBC

What is one of the most notable examples of yellow journalism?

New York newspapers helped provoke the Spanish-American War by publishing articles falsely charging that the Spanish had destroyed the U.S.S. Maine

Penny Press

Newspapers available in the mid 19th century for one cent per copy. Innovations in the printing process provided affordable access to news and facilitated public literacy and civic education.

How does television coverage differ from print coverage?

TV news stories generally only provide brief summaries of the information reported in the leading newspapers

Summarize some of the conglomerate competition in the newspaper industry at the end of the 19th century:

William Randolph Hearst's New York Journal and Joseph Pulitzer's New York World battled for the widest circulation through fantastic headlines, appealing advertisements, and color cartoons.

What websites do Americans use most often for news?

Yahoo, Google, CNN

yellow journalism

a style of reporting in which journalists exaggerate or even fabricate news stories to increase circulation. This sensationalistic mode of journalism was prevalent in the U.S. at the turn of the 19th century

All the President's Men

an award winning book that became a film. Based on Woodward's and Bernstein's uncovering of the watergate scandal.

What is C-SPAN?

broadcasting corporation for purpose of providing political information and public access to political process

What beneficial effects did radio broadcasts have in 1920?

brought hope to families in the midst of the Great Depression. Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the nation through weekly "fireside chats" explaining and promoting his New Deal proposals for economic recovery.

How did the journalism industry respond to the criticisms of press?

created professional standards of conduct (a code of ethics)

What is the foremost standard of professionalism that we expect of the media?

credibility

What was responsible to a shift towards journalistic objectivity?

critics of sensationalism pushed for industry reforms. Publishers came to view sensationalism as a liability b/c polarizing stories alienated readers and weakened advertisement sales.

What role does media play in agenda setting?

determine whether or not an issue will receive coverage. Media act as gatekeepers, controlling which events we hear about and which we don't

What was a major consequence of editorial independence from corporate ownership?

editors could exercise personal judgement and select stories for papers based on quality, not profit

Where does the media derive much of its power?

from its ability to shape the political agenda by choosing which stories to report

news outlets in foreign democracies?

gov't organizations involved to some extent in the ownership and operation of broadcast news sources. Required by law to provide basic levels of public affairs coverage

How did priming affect voting decisions in 2004?

in months leading up to presidential election, news outlets focused on the Iraq war, priming voters to think about which presidential candidate would best handle national security. With a record of homeland security reform and leader of the international War on Terror, Bush won the election.

Who is least likely to be persuaded to change their attitude about public policy?

individuals w/ greater political knowledge less likely to accept media messages that disagree with their political predispositions b/c they have a greater frame of reference by which to evaluate media content

who is most capable of receiving media messages?

individuals with greater political knowledge, b/c they are more likely to be paying attention to the news.

What do opponents to "infotainment" say?

it elevates humor to the neglect of factual accuracy and makes light of serious political issues and policy problems

Journalism today?

marked by pronounced shift to entertainment.

What does "the media" refer to?

mass media including all companies, organizations, institutions, and other corporate entities who deliver info on politics and current events to the public.

To what demographic do newspapers most appeal?

older, white, and highly educated.

why were journalism schools formed?

out of a climate of reform in the midst of heavy criticism of the press for its sensationalistic practice

What is the most expensive media platform for advertising?

television

framing

process by which media encourages viewers to interpret journalistic stories in a particular way. Media can frame stories for the public using selective presentation of facts or specific descriptive language

priming

process by which the media influence the way ppl think about an issue or event. Through its presentation of info, the media shape how ppl consider issues and events and interpret related info

agenda setting?

process of getting issues on the political agenda, or those issues to which the public and decision makers are paying attention and on which there is active political debate.

What is one of the major tenets of this code of ethics?

professionally trained editors would enjoy autonomy from corporate ownership.

newspaper industry by end of 19th century?

profitable business dominated by a few media conglomerates.

Newspapers in the late 18th century?

reflected the development of political parties. Published Federalist Papers and essays by anti-Federalists Soon, parties began to publish their own papers

functions of watchdog journalists?

sort through gov't information, think critically about central message, and ask tough questions of the White House

What does the debate over net neutrality center around?

the ability of broadband access providers to block the content available to their customers with the intention of limiting competition for services or applications or guaranteeing service quality.

Consequences of Progressive muckracking?

widespread discontent with political climate which lacked transparency, accountability, and professionalism. News industry developed ethical standards and Society of Professional Journalists was formed in 1909.

Advantages of new media for american politics

1. attention to political rumors left uncovered by mainstream media, wider coverage 2. Creates alternative outlets for ideologues and provides more time and opportunity for policy debate 3. provides sympathetic arenas for struggling politicians or offbeat stories 4. Encourages fact-checking and draws attention to issues of credibility 5. Levels political playing field with new outlets willing to broadcast almost anything and available to all regardless of political leaning 6. new outlets for campaign finance 7. appeals to young americans

Disadvantages of New media for american politics

1. exaggerates importance of minor political events 2. new emphasis on politician personalities and provides incentives for personal attack 3. leads to polarized and warring political culture through breakdown of old restraints in media and politics 4. Elevates ideologues in the political forum 5. Allows people to self-select their news, possibly obscuring the most important events of the day 6. Encourages criticism of "mainstream media" and incessant questioning of accuracy, relevance, purpose, and bias 7. Leads to political miscalculation of the importance and relevance of events 8. Exacerbates problems associated with regulating campaign finance 9. Excludes elderly and poor Americans

Public expectations of media

1. provide citizens with info on gov't activities so they can hold elected officials accountable 2. help voters make informed decisions by providing info on candidates, political parties, and competing policy platforms 3. public oversight of gov't

What group of people are typically watchdogs?

journalists in the White House Press Corps

What can the amount of coverage devoted to an issue influence?

the level of concern about the issue. For ex: when Obamacare received most news coverage, concerns about it also peaked, with 26% of Americans saying it was the most important problem facing the country. As newspaper coverage declined, so did the public perception that obamacare was the most important problem

market driven journalism

A market in which private ownership of media encourages journalistic practices driven by increasing advertising revenue, circulation, and profit margins. This type of market leads to story coverage driven by audience appeal rather than by educational, social, or political value

What are some examples of prominent journalism schools?

Columbia University Northwestern University

National Gazette

Competing publication to Gazette of the U.S. Established by Thomas Jefferson and the anti-Federalists.

What was the first newspaper to be continuously published?

The Boston Newsletter in 1704

How did the Watergate scandal affect the relationship between the president and the press?

caused media to adopt a much more aggressive and critical posture toward gov't. Press came to view its role as adversarial oversight of gov't.

What do shows like MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" and Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" do?

combine daily news with bombastic editorializing that attracts certain viewers.

libel

defamation in written form

net neutrality

idea that all Internet consumers should have equal access to legal Internet content, applications, and services; equal access to network connectivity; and choice among competitive providers

What milestone event ushered in the era of watchdog journalism?

journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's uncovering of the Watergate scandal by tracing money used to pay burglars back to presidential aides of Nixon and leading to Nixon's ultimate resignation

Who plays the largest role in agenda setting?

leaders in the executive branch like president, governors, mayors. Media does too, but not as significant as these

What was the consequence of objective treatment of the news?

nationally distributed papers increased readership and profits for major media conglomerates

Society of Professional Journalists today?

nearly 10k members, continues to be "dedicated to encouraging free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior"

Print media

newspapers and magazines

How did Obama advertise his campaign in the 2008 election?

1. 30-min tv infomercial 2. online advertising on social networking, search engines, news sites, and gaming platforms

2 opinions on media?

1. a worldwide crisis that undermines the foundation of liberal democracy 2. one of the most democratic developments of the last several decades, opening new avenues of political info and contributing new voices to the political dialogue

3 factors that determine the likelihood of persuasion?

1. source characteristics 2. message characteristics 3. audience characteristics Who ways what to whom

ideological makeup of Hardball with Chris Matthews audience?

35% conservative

Why are newspaper readers better informed on political issues and current events?

B/c newspapers provide more extensive and in-depth coverage than broadcast sources

free media?

campaign coverage provided by the media outside of paid advertising. Although free for a campaign, candidate loses control over the content, message, and image conveyed to voters

Paid media

campaign coverage purchased by a party, candidate, or interest group. Although costly, allows campaign to maintain control over the content, message, and image conveyed to voters.

ideological makeup of Lou Dobbs audience?

fairly equal balance between conservative and moderate. Still mostly conservative

Describe Barack Obama's fundraising operation?

masterfully targeted online communities to secure millions of dollars in small donations

What is potentially responsible for the "trench-warfare mentality" that characterizes Washington politics?

new media outlets lacking pro standards of journalism pay close attention to the private lives and personalities of politicians

broadcast media

radio and television

What often determines the public's evaluations of presidential performance?

which issues are emphasized in the news and how well the president is perceived to be handling them. Ex: as media coverage of healthcare increased in 2009, Americans considered it when evaluating Obama's performance. By focusing on health care, media increased favor for Obama due to his vocal support for the proposals.

What group does the news reach least?

young people.

When did Tvs become widely available?

1950s

According to a 2008 poll, approximately what percentage of Americans reported reading a newspaper the day before?

35%

New York Times Co. v. United States (1971)

Supreme Court permitted the New York Times to publish classified Pentagon Papers concerning U.S. political and military involvement in Vietnam

What did the Virginia Declaration of Rights (1776) say about freedom of press?

"the freedom of the press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty and can never be restrained but by despotic governments"

What does the Pew Project for Excellence in Journalism suggest about news consumers?

"they hunt and gather what they want when they want it, use search to comb destinations and share what they find through a growing network of social media"

Ruling in Near v. Minnesota

(1931) Supreme Court extended freedom of press provision to protect media from state and national censorship.

What restrictions do media outlets face?

1. FCC 2. limits by ownership and distribution constraints

2 characteristics that distinguish U.S. media from media in other countries

1. American media outlets owned by private enterprises 2,. American media face few gov't restrictions

3 major television news networks prior the the 1970s?

1. CBS 2. NBC 3. ABC

What are some examples of cable news stations today?

1. CNN 2. MSNBC 3. CNBC 4. Fox News

How did Obama use new media?

1. announced his VP nominee selection via text message 2. advertising in gaming platforms

How have media conglomerates adapted to the introduction of the Internet?

1. creating websites 2. publishing blogs 3. RSS feeds 4. podcasts 5. digital media sharing 6. encouraging audience interactivity

Society of Professional Journalists

1. founded in 1909 as a part of a movement toward journalistic professionalism 2. Established standards of professionalism in a Code of Ethics Seeking truth Fair and comprehensive account of events and issues Thoroughness and honesty Dedication to ethical behavior

What kinds of news lack credibility?

1. news relying on hearsay w/no reliable sources 2.fails to present all sides of an issue and reveals bias. 3. fails to keep readers updated in recent developments 4. provides censored information to protect its interests

What are some restrictions on media?

1. outlets are subject to charges of libel if publishing false information.

3 types of media?

1. print media 2. broadcast media 3. new media

How do newspapers continue to play an important role in American politics?

1. provide greater detail than television or radio 2. more stories related to public affairs, gov't, and politics.

How do privately owned media outlets increase audience size to increase advertising revenues?

1. report on stories that attract widest audience 2. increase entertainment value of their content

What does the Code of Ethics require that journalists do?

1. seek truth and report it 2. minimize harm 3. act independently 4. be accountable

About how many Americans reported regularly watching cable TV news in 2012?

1/3

When was the first American newspaper printed?

1690

What group of Americans is least likely to access the news on any day?

18-24

What were the journalistic consequences of the watergate scandal?

Other media outlets across the country began developing their own investigative units.

soft news

also called infotainment, soft news combines information and entertainment. Emphasizes stories that are entertaining even if they lack seriousness, significance, or timeliness.

Differences between network and cable news?

cable news audiences are younger and more educated . they gravitate towards programming that reinforces their political ideology.

What is the preferred media for young adults (18-24)?

digital (new media)

new media

digital sources like the internet. Characterized by interactivity, or consumer's role in defining and shaping the info

What caused the decrease in paid subscriptions to newspapers?

fewer people are reading news from traditional print outlets.

Muckracking

journalism focused on exposing corruption in gov't or industry. Prevalent in U.S. from 1890s to the 1930s and influenced many legislative reforms

What areas do network news programs summarize?

summarize major events in Washington, major cities, and foreign capitals. Executive branch receives the most attention.

What do tv shows like "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" and "The Colbert Report" do?

take a "a reality-based look at news, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports, and entertainment" with a point of view grounded in comic satire

What do supporters of infotainment say?

the focus on satire attracts audiences who otherwise would pay no attention to the news.

How did the Progressives use print media in the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

to expose gov't corruption and promote political and social reform

When did Congress consider the issue of net neutrality and what was its final decision?

when it was introduced in 2006, 2007, and 2008. Did not pass the bill.