Chapter 15
Pentagon Papers
A 7,000-page top-secret United States government report on the history of the internal planning and policy-making process within the government itself concerning the Vietnam War
role and history of presidential press secretary
Has existed only since Herbert Hoover's administration (1929-1933), and the individual holding it is the president's main disseminator of information to the press
what effect, in most cases, does the press have on what people believe?
Has little effect
Pat Buchanan
Has repeatedly and alternately enjoyed prominent positions in media )as a host of CNN's Crossfire and later as a commentator on MSNBC) and politics (as an adviser in Republican administrations and as a presidential candidate)
comedy news programming
Have a growth in popularity nowadays
Web-based magazines
Have smaller circulation, but because their readerships are composed of activists and opinion leaders, they have disproportionate influence
C-SPAN (Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network)
A television network that broadcasts political events from all political parties (except for extreme fringe groups) without commentary
one-sided media
A type of narrowcasting, is gaining in popularity as networks intentionally market a one-sided message to secure a competitive edge in niche markets
libel
A written defamation of a person's character, reputation, business, or property rights
where and when television first demonstrated publicly in U.S.
At the 1939 Worlds Fair in New York but it did not take off as a news source until after World War II
claims of liberal bias in 1980s and 1990s
Because of the sheer number of journalists who leaned to the left
decline of network news and rise of cable news viewership
Between 2000 and 2004, viewership for all network news programming declined from 45% to 35%. Cable news has seen an increase in viewership, from 34% in 2000 to 38% in 2004
African-American news programming
Black Entertainment Television )BET)
reasons for Court's reticence to allow cameras in
Citing the need to protect the public's perception of the Supreme Court as a nonpolitical and autonomous entity
News Media Becomes more Professional and Objective
Clearer standards were being applied in evaluating the behavior of people in power. Reporters were being trained to adhere to principles of objectivity and balance and motivated by a never ending quest of truth
Growth of Newspapers in the 1700s
Colonists began to realize the value of a press free from government oversight and censorship
watchdog role
Concept of the press as a monitor of government and public affairs
The Living Constitution: First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances
FOX News
Conservative
Rush Limbaugh—
Conservative radio talk-show host
opposition to deregulation by FCC by many ideologically opposing groups
Conservative religious groups believe that less diversification kills community-based media
two reasons for unequal treatment of print and broadcast media
First, the airwaves used by the electronic media are considered public property and are leased by the federal government to private broadcasters. Second, those airwaves are in limited supply; without some regulation, the nation's many radio and television stations would interfere with one another's frequency signals
Society of Professional Journalists' "Code of Ethics"
For journalists that includes principles and standards governing issues like avoiding conflicts of interest, dealing ethically with sources, and verifying the information being reported
citizen journalists now beginning to be relied upon by traditional news media outlets
For news gathering, especially in cases where the public can provide unprecedented access to events as they are unfolding
December 2007 revised rule by FCC on cross-ownership ban
For televisions and newspapers in the twenty largest markets, and it established procedures to grant viewers for combinations in smaller markets if they served the public interest
Effect of journalists' personal feelings about a candidate
Former Governor Howard Dean became a media darling during the 2004 Democratic primaries because his fiery speeches made more good stories, putting him on the cover of Time and other news magazine. His rapid fall from grace after his poor showing in Iowa and his subsequent and much criticized "scream" at a rally gave rise to the speculation that the press can make them break their favorite candidates
Daniel Ellsberg
Former Pentagon official who "leaked" the Pentagon Papers
Main Source of Campaign News by Party Affiliation (Table 15.2)
Fox News: Total% - 23 Rep.% - 34 Dem.% - 20 Ind.% - 17 CNN: Total% - 22 Rep.% - 19 Dem.% - 28 Ind.% - 20 MSNBC: Total% - 11 Rep.% - 8 Dem.% - 15 Ind.% - 10 CNBC: Total% - 11 Rep.% - 9 Dem.% - 13 Ind.% - 8 NBC Nightly News: Total% - 15 Rep.% - 14 Dem.% - 19 Ind.% - 13 CBS Evening News: Total% - 13 Rep.% - 13 Dem.% - 17 Ind.% - 9 ABC World News: Total% - 14 Rep.% - 12 Dem.% - 18 Ind.% - 12 NPR: Total% - 17 Rep.% - 13 Dem.% - 22 Ind.% - 18 NewsHour (PBS): Total% - 5 Rep.% - 4 Dem.% - 7 Ind.% - 4 O'Reilly Factor: Total% - 9 Rep.% - 16 Dem.% - 5 Ind.% - 7 Rush Limbaugh: Total% - 5 Rep.% - 10 Dem.% - 3 Ind.% - 3 Larry King: Total% - 4 Rep.% - 3 Dem.% - 7 Ind.% - 3 Daily Show: Total% - 6 Rep.% - 3 Dem.% - 10 Ind.% - 7
Various Outlets that make up the News Media
From newspapers to magazines, journalists inform the public influence public opinion, and affect the direction of public policy in our democratic society
2007 survey by Pew Research Center for the People and the Press and what a majority of the public believe about the media
Gives low ratings on a number of indicators. 55% of the respondents perceive the news media to be politically biased and 53% believe that the press often is inaccurate in their reporting
content regulation of electronic media
Government attempts to regulate the substance of the mass media
prior restraint
Government censorship of information before it is published or broadcast
release of written transcripts and audio recordings
Happens at the end of each term, which lack both the visuals and timeliness that could make make them foder for the modern press
how media-influenced changes might occur:
1. Reporting can sway people who are uncommitted and have no strong opinion in pendants than on strong partisans 2. The media has a greater impact on topics far removed from the lives and experiences of readers and viewers 3. Agenda Setting - The constant process of forming the list of issued to be addressed by government 4. Framing - The process by which a news organization defines a political issue and consequently affects opinion about the issue 5. The media has the power to indirectly influence the way the public views politicians and government
news media focuses on three groups in covering Congress
1. The leaders of both parties in both houses receive the lion's share of attention because only they can speak for a majority of their party's members 2. Key committee chairs command center stage when subjects in their domain are newsworthy 3. Local newspapers and broadcast stations normally devote some resources to covering their local senators and representatives, when these legislators are junior and relatively lacking in influence
Newspaper Published in Colonies as Early as What Year?
1789
Timeline: The Development of the American News Media
1789: Rise of the Partisan Press Alexander Hamilton's "The Gazette of the United States" and Thomas Jefferson's "The National Gazette" are established 1833: New York Sun enters Circulation Single copies sell for one penny (about four dollars in today's currency). The Sun is written to appeal to a mass audience 1848: Associated Press Established The AP becomes the nation's first wire service 1893: Joseph Pulitzer Launches "New York World" known for its sensationalism and progressive crusades, Pulitzer's approach is nicknamed "Yellow Journalism" 1912: The Columbia School of Journalism Admits its First Class Students use the first journalism textbook - The Practice of Journalism - By Williams and Martin 1920: KDKA in Pittsburgh First commercial radio station launches and provides detailed campaign coverage 1960: Presidential Debates Debates are televised for the first time 1979: The Cable Satellite Public Affairs Network (C-SPAN) Provides live, round-the-clock coverage of politics and government 1980: Cable News Network (CNN) Founded by media mogul Ted Turner, CNN makes national and international events available instantaneously around the globe 1996: Political Candidate Home Pages Appear on the Web Internet sites contain candidate profiles, issue positions, campaign strategy and slogans, and more 2000: Web Goes Political World Wide Web becomes a campaign tool and a 24-hour source of news 2002: Blogs Take Off Web logs, or blogs, create a popular forum for the disbursement of political news and commentary 2006: Social Networking and Video Sharing Explodes Online social networks and video sharing Web sites transform campaigning by providing for greater transparency of candidates and their campaign practices 2008: Internet Fully Integrated into Political Campaigns Internet plays its largest role yet as a source for elections information. Campaigns use the Internet to expand grassroots fundraising and get out the votes efforts
percentage of Americans who reported getting their news from talk radio in 1997: in 2005- -
1997: 12% 2005: 22%
First Amendment
5 freedoms: speech, press, religion, assembly, petition. In this case, freedom of the press is very important
journalists accredited as daily White House correspondents
68. Consequently, a politician's every public utterance is reported and intensively scrutinized and interpreted in the media
survey of Internet users on credibility of Web versions of established news organizations vs. blogs and individual postings
80% think the web versions of the established news organizations such as 'The New York Times', 'CNN,' and the 'AP Wire Service' are credible, while only 10% thought the same of blogs and other individual postings
studies show that audiences are aware of news bias and seek out their biases
A comprehensive study of the news media reports that audiences are aware of news bias and seek our particular perspectives in the news they consume
ARPANET
A computer network developed by the Advanced Research Project Agency (now the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency) in the 1960s and 1970s as a means of communication between research laboratories and universities. ARPANET was the predecessor to the Internet
press release
A document offering an official comment or position
Muckraking
A form of journalism, in vogue in the early twentieth century, concerned with reforming government and business conduct
Yellow Journalism
A form of newspaper publishing in vogue in the late nineteenth century that featured pictures, comics, color, and sensationalized news coverage
The Internet
A global network connecting millions of computers, making it possible to exchange information
Al-Jazeera
A major Arabic television news source, has an English-language website providing news concerning the Middle East
reasons for focus on president over Congress and the courts
A president can address the nation on all networks almost at well. On television, Congress and the Courts appear to be divided and confused institutions- different segments contradicting others- whereas the commander in chief is in clear focus as chief of state and head of government
press briefing
A relatively restricted session between a press secretary or aide and the press
negative coverage of Congress
A significant portion of the media attention given to the House and Senate focuses on conflict among members
TV news versus newspapers
A substantial majority of Americans still received most of their news from newspapers. But, in 2007, 65% of Americans claimed to get their news from television, whereas only 27% read newspapers
1996 Telecommunications Act
Allowed ownership of multiple broadcast stations as long as those stations did not reach more than 35 percent of the market
9/I I and temporary shift in public's attitude toward the media
Americans followed the news more closely and relied heavily on cable network coverage of the attacks and the war on terrorism
negative coverage of presidency
An analysis of the coverage of Bill Clinton's turbulent presidency found a frenzy of negative media coverage immediately following the Lewinsky scandal, followed by a longer period of more even-handed coverage
Networks
An association of broadcast stations (radio or television) that share programming through a financial arrangement
Wire Services
An electronic delivery of news gathered by the news service's correspondents and sent to all member news media organizations
press conference
An unrestricted session between an elected official and the press
Television Audience for Barack Obama's 2008 Democratic Nomination Acceptance Speech Before 84,000 People at Denver's Invesco Field
And another 39 million Americans were watching this on television
Political Payoffs to the Press in Nineteenth Century
Andrew Jackson gave one in ten of his early appointments to loyal reporters. During the 1872 presidential campaign, the Republicans slipped cash to about 300 newsmen
common carriers
Are defined by the Communications Act of 1934, such as telephone companies, are requires to be neutral in the content they carry over their networks and cannot limit or censor individuals or organizations they may disagree with
nightly news anchors and public trust vs. tabloid-style journalists
Are rated as the most trusted journalists, while tabloid-style journalists are ranked at the bottom
opposition in Congress to FCC changes
Arguing that the country needs more and not less media diversification, given increasing media outlet consolidation
research suggests why candidates might charge media with bias
As a strategy for dealing with an assertive press, and that bias claims are part of the dynamic between elected official and reporters
lack of news media skepticism over Iraq
As we know, those in the administration who believed the Iraqis would acquiesce to a U.S. occupation were wrong, as were those who believed that Saddam Hussein possed weapons of mass destruction
online social networks
Blogs, social networking websites, and other online communities- where people socialize or exchange information and opinions
twenty-four hour news cycle
Brought to life by cable news stations and nourished by the expansion of Web-based media, has only heightened the pressure to produce interesting copy in a timely manner
most Americans had never heard the voice of a president
But that changed when the radio was invented
increasing availability of services providing 24-hour news services
By 2006, 58% of all U.S. households subscribed to a cable service, and 29% of households were using a direct broadcast satellite
heavy users of online news sites and newspaper readership
By and large, the people who use media websites are highly informed voters who devour additional information about politics and government and use the web for updates and supplements to their traditional media services. A study in 2006 shows that 96% of the daily consumers of online news sites rely on multiple sources to get their news
FCC and 2003 regulation changes
By proposing to increase the total national audience a corporation could reach from 35% to 45%. Since the total national audience is measured by how many stations a corporation owns, this increase would have allowed corporations to own more television stations
most homes had televisions by when?
By the early 1960s
technology's effect on the flow and dispersal of news
Can consolidate the flow of news and to disperse news
rise of right-wing radio in mid-1980s
Controversial radio host, Rush Limbaugh, began the trend with his unabashed conservative views, opening the door for another conservative commentators such as Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, and Michael Reagan
corporate bias of the media
Corporate interests play a significant role in what journalists report, and that they may counter and liberal leanings of reporters
Monopolies
Corporations that gain complete control of the production of a single good or service in which can manipulate prices
Anti-Federalists and the Press
Demands a constitutional amendment guaranteeing the freedom of the press
much of press focus on the president is unfavorable
Dwight Eisenhower once opened up a press conference by inviting the press to "nail him to the cross" as they usually did, and this approach suggests the way most presidents approach their formal encounters with the press
actual malice
Either knowledge of a defamatory statement's falsity or a reckless disregard for the truth
Air America-
Established in 2004 but declared bankruptcy in 2006, had limited success
media outlets with national and international influence
Every newspaper, radio station, television station, and website is influential in its own area, but only a handful of media outlets are influential nationally, and even a smaller number of media grants have international influence.
The Good and Bad of Muckraking
Expose misconduct by government, business, and individual politicans
liberal Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR)
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), critique news stories and attempt to set the record straight on important issues that they believe have received biased coverage
George W. Bush reluctance to face the press and efforts to control his image
He clearly tried to control his image by controlling how much the press directly encountered him and by speaking at highly staged media events, quite often in military settings, where he delivered a scripted message and presented an interesting visual, but answered no questions from the media
Impact of Technological Advances on how Americans Receive Their News
High-speed presses and more cheaply produced paper made mass-circulation daily newspapers possible. The telegraph and then the telephone made newsgathering easier and much faster. When radio became widely available in the 1920s, millions of Americans could hear national politicians instead of merely reading about them. With television- first introduced in the late 1940s, and nearly a universal fixture in U.S. homes by the mid-1950s- citizens could see and hear political candidates and presidents. And now with the rise of Web-based media, the process is once again undergoing a transformation
questions about the media's relationship with the public
How much influence do the media actually have on public opinion? Do the media have a discernable ideological bent or bias, as some people suggest? Are people able to resist information that is inconsistent with their preexisting beliefs? And how much confidence does the public have in the news media?
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
If a newspaper prints an article that turns out to be false but that the newspaper thought was true at the time of publication, the newspaper has not committed libel
Thomas Jefferson's Opinions about the Press
If he was forced between a "government without newspapers or newspapers without a government," he "would not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." Like many of the nation's founders, realized the profound importance of a free press in a free society
competing daily newspapers in 1923 and 2008
In 1923, over 500 cities had competing daily newspapers; by 2008, that number was down to a mere eleven
early 15 minute evening network newscast and expansion
In 1963, most networks provided only fifteen minutes of news per day; only two major networks provided thirty-minutes of news coverage
steady decline in perceived believability of the major news organizations (2004 percentages regarding print media and broadcast media)
In 2004, only 54% of the public reported that thy can believe most of what they read in their daily newspaper. The ratings for the television networks and local news stations are somewhat better, around 60%
regulation of broadcasters in Britain
In Great Britain, the state-run British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and the privately owned media are subject to unusually strict regulation on the publication of governmental secrets
celebrity status of news reporters
In an age of media stardom and blurring boundaries between forms of entertainment, journalists in prominent media positions have unprecedented opportunities to attain fame and fortune, of which they often take full advantage
President Franklin Roosevelt and "fireside chats" (first president to make effective use of electronic media)—
In order to promote his New Deal. The soothing voice of Roosevelt made it difficult for most Americans to believe that what the president wanted could be anything other than what was best for America
increase in coverage of presidential campaigns since 1960s
In the 1960s, a presidential candidate in the primaries would attract a press entourage of at most a few dozen reporters, but today a hundred or more journalists can be seen tagging along with a front-runner
more recent media bias: intentional and a response to what?
Increasing fragmentation and competition among media
deep background
Information from an official that can be printed but not attributed at all
on the record
Information provided to a journalist that can be released and attributed by name to the source
on background
Information provided to a journalist that will not be attributed to a named source
off the record
Information provided to a journalist that will not be released to the public
information misers
Information seekers who want the news but do not have time to waste
basic job of reporters
Informing the public
recent controversy over regulation of media content involving the communications industry and Internet service providers
Involves the communications industry and Internet service providers
American's general assessment of the news media and the general trend of that assessment
Is considerably unfavorable and has been in a downward trend since the 1980s
conservative bias of media
Is even more persuasive. They point to the elite background of the typical journalist, who tends to be white, male, highly educated, and relatively affluent
Polarization
Is made possible by narrowcasting is particularly problematic when it comes to programs that are narrowcasted in specific ideological direction
Congress attempts to pass net neutrality legislation in 2006
It failed
rise of Internet as source of news and information
It is most likely in the future that many citizens will use the video components of the World Wide Web to substitute for television news watching
Benjamin Day and the New York Sun
It was the first "penny paper." Beyond its low price, the Sun sought to expand its audience by freeing itself from the grip of a single political party. The Sun was the forerunner of modern newspapers, which rely on pass circulation and commercial advertising to produce profit
The Daily Show
Jon Stewart's 'Daily Show' poked fun at world leaders and current issues
William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer
Leading publishers of newspapers and magazines and whom started yellow journalism
CNN
Liberal
why are journalists biased?
Like all human beings, have values, preferences, and attitudes galore- some conscious, others subconscious, but all reflected at one time or another in the subjects selected for coverage or the portrayal of events or content communicated
Affiliates
Local television stations that carry the programming of a national network
effect of actual malice rule
Made it very difficult for public figures to win libel cases
Official Secrets Act of 1911 (Great Britain)
Makes it a criminal offense for a Briton to publish any facts, material, or news collected in that person's capacity as a public minister or civil servant
technology continues to reduce cost of producing news and the impact of that phenomenon
Making anyone with a personal computer, Internet connection, and something to say as a potential news source, the valuable of reliable and high-quality information may continue to grow in importance, further adding to the influence of the existing media gians
tradition media and reputation as an authoritative source of news
Managed to maintain a reputation as an authoritative source for news in the an-ever expanding media market
various blogs
Many blogs are devoted to ideological rabble-rousing and rumor mongering, while others provide reasoned discourse
traditional news media on Internet
Many news programs on the networks and cable are available as podcasts and other portable formats. The New York Times and Washington Post are available online for free to users who register. Political magazines such as the conservative 'National Review' and liberal 'Nation' provide all online content free of charge; like newspaper Websites, they earn revenue by selling online pop-up and banner advertisements
national news magazines
Subscriber numbers are on the millions, supplement the national newspapers, wire services, and broadcast networks
Less Partisan Press but not more Respectable
Mass-circulation dailies sought wide readership, attracting readers with the sensational and the scandalous. The sordid side of politics became the entertainment of the times
more than bias, what fear of missing a good story leads to
Media outlets to develop similar headlines and to frame their stories in a similar fashion
News Media
Media providing the public with new information about subjects of public interest
size of congressional press corps
More than 3,000 members
debate on whether the information available on the Web will be good for society and politics
Most believe that the availability of all this information makes for a better-informed and more active electorate. Others are concerned that only the more educated and affluent will benefit from a greater reliance on technology and that this will produce new inequalities
media chains ownership
Most daily newspapers are owned by large media con-glomerates such as Gannett, McClatchy, and the Tribune Company. The top ten media chains account for 54 percent of daily circulation, while only 280 of the nearly 1,460 daily newspapers are independently owned; thus, chains own over 80% of the daily newspapers
what influences use of experts
Most journalists know a little bit about many subjects but do not specialize in any one area and certainly do not possess enough knowledge to fill the hours of airtime made possible by cable television's 24-hour news cycle. Therefore, especially on cable stations, the news media employ expert consultances from a number of different disciplines ranging from medical ethics to political campaigning
news to confirm preexisting views
Narrowcasting increases the chance that group members will rely on news that is appealing ot their preexisting views. By limiting one's exposure to a broad range of information or competing views, narrowing could result in further polarization of public opinion
distinction between network and cable news
Network news has lost viewers since 1980, with the loss becoming even steeper after the advent of cable news
news media prefers covering horse-race components of campaigns rather than public policy issues; why?
New people, whose lives revolve around the current political scene, naturally want to add spice and drama, minimize their boredom, and increase their audience. While the horse-race components of elections are intrinsically interesting, the limited time that television devotes to politics is disproportionately given to the competitive aspects of politics, leaving less time for adequate discussion of public policy
what impact experts have on shaping American's views
News from experts or research studies is estimated to have almost as great an impact as anchorpersons, reporters in the field, or special commentators. Such findings are both good and bath for Americans. On the one hand, the "strong effects by commentators and experts are compatible with a picture of a public that engages in collective deliberation and takes expertise serious. On the other, one might argue that the potency in media commentators of ostensibly nonpartisan TV 'experts' is disturbing
Penny Press
Newspapers that, because of technological innovations in printing, were able to drop their price to one cent, therefore making papers affordable to working and middle classes and enabled newspapers to become a genuine mass medium
are voters empty vessels into which the media can pour their own beliefs?
No
studies from the 1940s and 1950s (an era when partisan identification was very strong) suggested that the media had what influence on public opinion?
No influence
networks' loss of independence after major corporate buyouts
None of the three original television networks remain independent entities: General Electric owns NBC, Viacom owns CBS, and Walt Disney owns ABC. In the print media arena, Gannett, the parent company of USA Today and roughly 100 other newspapers in the United States, enjoys the nation's largest circulation rate. From the mid-1970s to the current period, the number of owners of full-power TV stations and daily newspapers has been cut by more than half.
"fair and balanced" self-applied slogan versus FOX News' obvious conservative bias
One of the networks that is not forth-right with their leanings
pressure to get the story right versus to get the story first
Or at the very least, to get the story finished before the next deadline
internal media critics hired by some major newspapers
Or ombudsmen, who assess how well their newspaper and its reporters are performing their duties
2003 Iraq invasion and "embedded" journalists
Organizations such as the Project for Excellence in Journalism found that embedded journalists typically provided only anecdotal stories, lacked the overall context of the war, and stressed American successes without much coverage of Iraqi civilian casualties
conservative Accuracy in Media (AIM)
Others like Accuracy in Media (AIM) and its liberal counterpart ...
Clear Channel
Owns and operates nearly 1,200 radio stations, accounts for roughly 18 percent of the total market
Congress passes a compromise measure in July, 2003
Passed an amendment to an appropriations bill that raised the 35% cap on a national audience to 39%, a compromise that allowed the largest corporations to retain their current share- the largest corporation, Viacom, had 38.9% of the national audience, but prohibited any further expansion
Christian conservative news programming
Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN)
unscrupulous journalistic actors
People who disregard professional ethics in pursuit of self-interest
news media focus heavily on what?
Politicians and the day-to-day operations of our government
campaign consultants hired by politicians and media research
Politicians hire campaign consultants and also can attempt to bypass the national news media
ways in which politicians and media interact
Politicians hire campaign consultants who use focus groups and polling in an attempt to gauge how to present the candidate to the media and to the public
First Amendment
Prohibits Congress form abridging the freedom of the press, does not provide the media with unlimited print and broadcast freedom. A wide array of internal and external checks govern the behavior of the modern media
nonprofits studying news and entertainment media
Project for Excellence in Journalism and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press conduct scientific studies of the news and entertainment media. Others like Accuracy in Media (AIM) and its liberal counterpart Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), critique news stories and attempt to set the record straight on important issues that they believe have received biased coverage
C-SPAN coverage of Congress
Provide coverage of House and Senate sessions as well as many committee hearings
"Palin Phenomenon"
Provides insight into the media environment in which politicians now operate. Competition from new and alternative news sources and a 24-hour news cycle has pressured traditionally organizations to be constantly in search of newsworthy events
bias of experts; diversity of opinion
Rarely is there much discussion of the backgrounds and the credentials of the individuals who are placed on the screen. There may be biases in the commentary of these experts, but it is the hope that a diversity of expert opinion is reflected on each subject throughout the media. Nonetheless, biases do break through, and many critics claim that various media outlets consciously represent biased points of view in their reportage
study on comedy news programs informing viewers
Regular viewers of 'The Daily Show' found to know more about world events than non-viewers, even when education, party identification, watching cable news, and other factors were taken into consideration
future of new media
Remains as unpredictable as the latest blog entry, it is likely that the new media though will continue to blur the lines between print and broadcast, consumer and producer, commentary and fact, and entertainment and news
future relationship between the Internet and politics
Remains hard to predict
1991 Gulf War and military's isolation of reporters
Reporters were upset that the military was not forthcoming about events on and off the battlefield, while some Pentagon officials and many persons in the general public accused the press of telling the enemy too much in their dispatches
"biased reporting"
Reporting in which one side is favored over another or one subject is unfairly represented
Democratic Sentinel Story about Republican Presidential Candidate James G. Blaine and his Wife and their Child Born just Three Months After their Wedding
Republican presidential nominee James G. Blaine and his wife's first child had been born just three months after their wedding
mainstream media's use of blogs
Revealing how the new media provides unprecedented opportunities for the flow of information
corporate interests and corporate broadcast ownership: biased reporting about debate over Telecommunications Act of 1996
Scholars found that articles appearing in newspapers owned by media corporations with television interests typically failed to report possible negative impact resulting from passage of the act
concern over the ideological fragmentation of the media
Should give pause to those who believe that mass media are essential to providing the facts to educate the public about policies our local, state, and federal governments consider. This those facts are reported with bias (or worse, not reported at all because of bias), then portions of the public learn only the facts they want to learn, making consensus among the public and, thus, their representatives increasingly difficult
risks of media consolidation
Should the news media become dominated by a few-mega corporations, the fear is that the groups could limit the flow of information and ideas that form the very essence of free society and that make democracy possible
increase in number of print reporters accredited at U.S. Capitol since 1983
Since 1983, the number of print (news-paper and magazine) reporters accredited at the U.S. Capitol jumped from 2,300 to more than 4,000 today
same-day release of audio recordings to reporters on a case-by-case basis
Since 2000, reporters have been granted on a case-by-case basis the ability to make use of same-day audio recordings
revolving door between politics and news media
Some journalists find work as political consultants or members of government- which seems reasonable, given their prominence, abilities, and expertise, but which can become problematic when they move between spheres not once, but repeatedly
The Colbert Report parodies The O'Reilly Factor
Stephen Colbert's 'Colbert Report' - a satire of FOC News' 'The O'Reilly Factor' - dedicate their entire program to poking fun at world leaders and current issues
reasons the amount of coverage of Court-related stories diminishing
Stories involving complex legal issues are not as easy to sell as well-illustrated stories related to the Congress or president
Narrowcasting
Targeting media programming at specific populations within society
New Media
Technologies, such as the Internet, that blur the line between media sources and create new opportunities for the dissemination of news and other information
television in the Court
Television cameras have never been permitted to record supreme Court proceedings
Broadcast Media
Television, radio, cable, and satellite services
The News Generation Gap (Table 15.1)
Television: 2000 - 80% 2004 - 74% 2007 - 65% Newspapers: 2000 - 48% 2004 - 46% 2007 - 27% Radio: 2000 - 19% 2004 - 21% 2007 - 15% Magazines: 2000 - 5% 2004 - 4% 2007 - 2% Internet: 2000 - 11% 2004 - 24% 2007 - 26%
human beings will focus on a report that does what?
That reinforces their own attitudes and ignore parts that challenge their core bliefs
U.S. major newspapers distributed nationally
The 'New York Times', the 'Wall Street Journal', 'USA Today', and the 'Christian Science Monitor', are distributed nationally, and other newspapers, such as the 'Washington Post', and the 'Los Angeles Times', have substantial influence from coast to coast
cover of Court vis-a-vis coverage of legislative and executive branches
The Court remains severely limited when compared with coverage of the executive and legislative branches
foreign news media on Internet
The Internet now allows Americans to see foreign news media that was previously unavailable to most. The British Broadcasting Channel (BBC) has a website entirely devoted to news and available in forty languages
Countervailing Influence of John McCain's Announcement Just Hours after Obama's Speech of Governor Sarah Palin to be his Republican Vice Presidential Running Mate
The news media turned their attention away from Obama and directed it towards McCain's announcement
New York Times v. U.S. (1971)
The U.S. President Richard Nixon had claimed executive authority to force the Times to suspend publication of classified information in its possession. The question before the court was whether the constitutional freedom of the press under the First Amendment was subordinate to a claimed Executive need to maintain the secrecy of information. The Supreme Court ruled that First Amendment did protect the New York Times' right to print said materials
U.S. government on Internet
The U.S. government provides its own news to the public over the internet. Press releases, government forms, statistical data, and other information are available on websites created for all the major departments and agencies
Great Britain's national newspapers for its country and its background (compared to U.S. daily national newspaper influence in our country)
The United States has no nationwide daily newspapers to match the influence of Great Britain's 'Times', 'Guardian', and 'Daily Telegraph'. The national orientation of the British print media can be traced to the smaller size of the country and also to London's role as both the national capital and that nation's largest cultural metropolis. The vastness of the United States and the existence of many large cities effectively preclude a nationally united print medium in this country
Partisan Newspapers in late Eighteenth Century
The battle between Federalists and Anti-Federalists played out through these newspapers
citizen journalists
The collecting, reporting, and analyzing of news content by ordinary individuals
October 2000 court ruling on FCC rules that up to that point had required broadcasters give candidates chance to respond to personal attacks and political endorsements by a station
The court found these rules, long criticized by broadcasters as having a chilling effect on free speech, to be unconstitutional when the FCC was unable to justify these regulations to the court's satisfaction
Role of a Free Press
The critical role of free press in disseminating the story in a credible way appears to have escaped proper historical appreciation. Much of the war on terrorism involves gathering highly sensitive information about terrorist. Throughout World War I, journalists considered themselves part of the war effort, not independent observers. According to the military, the modern press is necessary to control, especially in this age of rapid communications especially in WW II
Mass Media
The entire array of organizations through which information is collected and disseminated to the general public
first among the three equal branches of government in coverage
The executive, the legislative, and the judicial, are roughly equal in power and authority. Though, in media coverage, the president is first among equals
Factors Making Palin a Compelling Source of News
The governor's oldest soon was a bout to be deployed to Iraq and her youngest, born in 2008, has Down Syndrome
industry's own professional norms
The heaviest restrictions placed on reporters come from this, and each journalist's level of integrity, as well as from the oversight provided by editors who are ultimately responsible for the accuracy of the news they produce
media effects
The influence of news sources on public opinion
as party identification declined during the past four decades, media influence has increased and what studies show now
The media has a definite effect on shaping public opinion, especially during elections
pundits, or "talking heads"
The name for experts hired to discuss the dominant issues of the day
"net neutrality"
The principle that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites
equal time rule
The rule that requires broadcast stations to sell airtime equally to all candidates in a political campaign if they choose to sell it to any
"A Terrible Tale" about Grover Cleveland in Buffalo Evening Telegraph
The story alleged that Cleveland, an unmarried man, had fathered a child in 1871, while sheriff of Buffalo, New York. Even though paternity was indeterminate because the child's mother had been seeing other men, Cleveland willingly accepted responsibility, since all the other men were married, and he had dutifully paid child support for years
Instance of Irresponsible and Erratic Media Behavior in Covering Palin
The tabloids and celebrity magazines were delving into unsubstantiated rumors about her family and personal life. Mainstream anchors and commentators were questioning whether she was a good mother and a good conservative for trying to juggle the demands of the vice presidency with a difficult family situation
Print Media
The traditional form of mass media, comprising newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and journals
number of reporters covering the Court full time
There are less than a dozen full-time reporters covering the Supreme Court, and the amount of space dedicated to Court-related stories has continued to shrink
protecting confidentiality of sources
Therefore, the rules can sometimes be used to an official's own benefit
Level of Media Coverage of Palin
They were fascinated, however, was borderline obsessive
Barack Obama and the news media
Was quite successful in controlling his image by limiting exposure to the news media and received some of the most favorable press coverage afforded any presidential candidate in the television age
Frustration with News Media vs. its Role in a Democratic Society
Though nothing can be private anymore, the news media has been a feature of the American political tradition since the founding, there also has been a strong appreciation for media's role in a democratic society
use of Internet in 2000 and 2007
Though, in 2000, only 9% of Americans claimed to receive news from the Internet, but in 2007, 29% did
politicians bypassing national news media
Through paid advertising and by appearing on talk shows and local news programs
new media gives media giants ability to project their news messages
To local and regional news outlets around the owrld, which are often eager to reproduce or at least respond to the message of the dominant media
for various media to compete, they have to differentiate themselves from the rest, and the current method of choice is to do what?
To provide content that palys to the preexisting biases of their target market
Franklin D. Roosevelt, press conferences, and the bully pulpit
To shape public opinion and explain their actions
Spanish-language news programming
Univision and TeleMundo
consolidation of media ownership
Unlike traditional industries where the primary concern associated with consolidation is the manipulation of prices made possible my monopolies or near monopolies, the consolidation of media poses a re far greater potential risk
blogs serving local needs and filling the void left by traditional news organizations
Various sites are able to keep their neighborhoods informed about important events in their community such as town meetings, school closings, and recycling initiatives. They also feature births, marriages, and recent deaths
Theodore Roosevelt on Muckraking
Was a derogatory term used to describe reporters who focused on the carnal underbelly of politics rather than its more lofty pursuits
advent of radio in early part of twentieth century
Was a media revolution and a revelation to the average American who rarely, if ever, had heard the voice of a president, governor, or senator
President Calvin Coolidge and radio
Was the first president to appear on radio on a regular basis
blogs
Web-based journal entries that provide an editorial and news outlet for citizens
increasing partisan dive between Democrats and Republicans in their assessment of the media's performance
Whereas large majorities of Republicans can see the press as liberal and politically biased, only a little more than 1/3 of Democrats feel the same way. Republicans are much more likely to see the press as too critical of America (63% vs 23%)
less obvious ethical dilemmas
Whether the issue is how to make use of a confidential source, how to deal with "off the record" comments, or simply determining what information is newsworthy, journalists are in the business of balancing competing pressures
the deepest bias among political journalists and political journalists desire for a good campaign story
Which is usually negative news about a candidate
competition
While it is unlikely that profit-driven media chains intentionally manipulate the news in favor of specific political perspectives, it is possible that market forces, aimed at expanding market shares and pleasing advertisers, lead to the focus on sensational issues, news as entertainment, and avoidance of issues that could fore or alienate their audiences
private ownership of the media in the United States and its mixed blessings
While private ownership assures media independence, something that cannot be said about state-controlled media in the former Soviet Union or in present-day China, it also brings market pressures to journalism that do not exist in state-run systems
Americans support of vigorous free press and role the media play in a democratic society
While public confidence in media organizations has declined and reforms are certaintly warranted, Americans have not wavered in their support for a vigorous free press and the role that the media play in a democratic society
media vacuum surrounding Court
While the president and Congress interact with the media on a regular basis, the Supreme Court remains a virtual media vacuum
concern over blogosphere has become dominated by a small elite
While there are over 70 million blogs on the Web, only a very small number of sites have a sizeable audience, and, thus, attract most of the advertising dollars available
fee-based satellite radio services-- -
Will affect news radio remains to be seen. Sirius Satellite Radio, for example, offers both a conservative and a liberal political talk channel and received significant publicity when radio personality Howard Stern moved his show to Sirius' network in early 2006
why it is difficult for news media to survey and cover Congress
With 535 voting members representing distinct geographic areas, covering Congress poses a difficult challenge for the media
general public outcry against the 2003 FCC changes
With legislators receiving angry letters and e-mails demanding that Congress stop the FCC
radio news surpassed by television news in 1950s—
With the development of AM talk radio in the mid-1980s