Comm 1301 ch 12 media and politics review

If a candidate calls a news conference, news organizations are required to give the same amount of news coverage to the other candidates.

false

Why are social media considered to be the Fifth Estate?

it distinguishes online networks from traditional news media

Results of a straw poll aren't considered reliable because:

A and B not based on random sample doesnt know who voted

CNN effect

CNN effect is what occurs when the coverage of people and problems in far away places interests people in the US. • Since CNN was known for its international coverage in its early years the effect was named after the network.

People older than 29 said social media were their number one way to learn about the presidential campaign.

False

using social media to reach voters,

The 2016 presidential campaign was different than most prior campaigns in several ways: it generated • a high level of interest, • high levels of partisan antipathy and • polarization. • Because a social media user's world is a range of close and distant social connections, it likely also provides a mix of conflicting political views.

news leaks and trial balloons

While by definition news leaks are unauthorized disclosures of confidential information to the press, the term more commonly refers to the disclosure of embargoed information before its official release. • The first definition is related more to employees of an organization who leak information because they believe it is in the public interest. • The second definition deals with release of confidential information that's sanctioned and are often made to prepare the press and the public for an official announcement. • the emphasis here is news leaks that are intentionally done in order to manipulate coverage; leaks can also be unintentional, as when a company executive inadvertently discloses confidential information in an interview or a politician inadvertently discloses classified information • Another type of leak is called a trial balloon. The news leak is made to gauge the public's reaction to a possible action. • Another way of characterizing the same approach is "Run it up the flagpole and see if anyone salutes it," a catchphrase that became popular in the late 1950s. But today it is more likely people would say, "Send up a trial balloon"

The role of the press that includes investigating and exposing wrongdoing is called

the watchdog function

Why are the news media considered to be the Fourth Estate?

their function is to watch over the three other estates

How much free media time did candidates Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton receive combined in the primary season, converted to a dollar amount?

three billion dollars

Early mass media researchers found that social relationships and demographic attributes influenced voting decisions more than media use did.

true

People who reported using online news sources said it wore them out.

true

The use of social media and news websites goes down as someone's age goes up.

true

symbiotic relationship between then-candidate Trump and news media

• Campaigns themselves now generate news from official campaign websites and candidates' social media accounts. • The symbiotic relationship between 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump and the media showed that the media coverage added to his visibility and popularity while he added to the media's revenue. • It's estimated that cable news organizations are expected to break advertising records for presidential campaigns - tabulating $2.5 billion* for the election season • It's estimated that Trump received the equivalent of nearly $2 billion* in free media, just during his primary campaign which was twice what the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had received. • That figure includes estimates of cost of ad time/space on traditional media and online sources such as Facebook, Twitter and Reddit

framing

• Framing in news coverage may be a way the media persuades voters in an election. The concept of framing is related to agenda setting theory (Chap 10) but the difference here is that the media may be telling the audience how to think (not what to think). • Ways to frame news: • Excluding or ignoring an event or candidate • Reporting conflict instead of goals or mission • Delegitimize candidates by focusing on unrest in their campaign, • candidate's appearance over their substance, or • low turnout at their events.

survey results about social media use for political news (designated with *)

• More than one-third* of social media users in 2016 were worn out by the amount of political content they encounter. • Nearly 60 percent* of respondents found discussing politics on social media with people with whom they disagree was stressful and frustrating. • Eighty-four percent* also felt that people commenting on social media said things that they would never say in person • Others believed that social media had a chilling effect on some people who didn't speak their mind because they were afraid they would alienate friends or be criticized.

watchdog function

• Nearly three-fourths of Americans in that study think news organizations perform a media watchdog function by keeping political leaders in line. • On the flip side, about the same percentage say the news media are biased. • News organizations are considered watchdogs in that they investigate and expose wrongdoing, especially of those in power.

How social media makes presidential elections different and value of free media

• Pervasiveness • Some of the pervasiveness of the media political coverage can have a higher purpose. • Nearly three-fourths of Americans in a pre-2016 election study think news organizations perform a media watchdog function by keeping political leaders in line. • On the flip side, about the same percentage say the news media are biased. • News organizations are considered watchdogs because they investigate and expose wrongdoing, especially of people in power.

equal time rule and exceptions

• Some industry observers have called it the broadcast "golden rule" - the Equal Time provision of the Communications Act of 1934 • It dictates that radio, television and cable systems must treat political candidates as equals when it comes to air time. • In short, broadcasters must offer the same advertising rates in comparable time slots to all candidates. • There are four exemptions to the equal time rule: • candidates appearing on a bona fide newscast, • news interview programs, • news documentaries or • on-the-spot coverage of spontaneous news events.

relationship between age and use of social media for political news

• That Pew Research Center study found that more Americans reported getting their information about the presidential campaign from late-night television comedy shows than from a national newspaper. • Just two percent said they found national newspapers to be the "most helpful" guides to the campaign • The youngest voters reported using social media and news websites/apps the most for their news source about the election. Older voters relied on cable news. • And, use of social media and news websites went down as age went up • The 2008 presidential and congressional elections were called the Facebook elections because it was the first where candidates tried to connect directly with voters through social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. • That campaign year efforts shifted from old political machines to the web • This was tailor made for grass-roots political movements and fundraising. • Unlike other traditional media organizations, there is no cost for entry to Facebook or YouTube, and "power is diffused when everyone can participate."

conclusions from the People's Choice study of 1940 election

• The People's Choice study on the American voter in 1940 election • The media environment was simpler, but people were beginning to become concerned that the media may be influencing the way people made up their minds who to vote for. • The research was a ground breaking study in the way the sample was built. Four panels of potential voters were interviewed at various points before the election. • Social relationships among people and those demographic characteristics were more significant in a final voting decision than media use. Demographics were SES, occupation, religion, residence, and age. • Media use mainly reinforced an existing voting decision; • Second most common was a media-activated choice followed by converting someone's vote. • Those social relationships were explained in a theory called two-step flow • Opinion leaders in a groups of people interpreted the media messages, speeches and other campaign communication and shared their opinion with people in those groups. • Media > Opinion leaders > other people

Fourth Estate

• The history of media watchdog function goes back to the 18th century when the term Fourth Estate described the press, after the other three estates: clergy, nobility and secular or nonreligious authorities. • The designation of the Fourth Estate is related to the news media's professional watchdog function or watching over the other three estates at that time. • In the U.S., the fourth estate is considered to be the fourth branch of government, since the three original estates no longer exist as they did in the English and French monarchies. (the other three? Judicial, legislative and executive branches)

criticism of news coverage of political races

• The news media may be criticized for how they report on presidential races because they focus more on the ranking in polls than on candidates' policy positions, experience or campaign promises. • This is called horse race coverage. Who's in front, who is second, etc. • Another reporting technique that may be criticized is an over-dependence on poll results. Reliance on polls contributes to the horse race reporting aspect of political coverage. • Which poll used matters. Results from a "poll of the day" on a television station's website or other internet-based data gathering techniques means the results aren't generated by a random sample. • Instead, these so-called straw polls show how people who take the time and have the interest to participate would vote. • In addition to over-reliance on polls, reporters and voters need to be careful about which polls they rely on (Chap 10). • Reporting the results from a "poll of the day" on a television station's website or other internet based data gathering techniques means the results aren't generated by a random sample. • Instead, these straw polls show how people who take the time and have the interest to participate would vote.

Fifth Estate

• The online networks are an addition and called the Fifth Estate.