POLS 1101: Chapter 10
How did the Obama and the Trump administration each approach the issue?
- Obama: Attempted to fortify net neutrality in 2015 - Trump: Reversed that course by ending net neutrality
What are the *"two vital functions a free press and independent media play in democracy"*?
- Promotes a free flow of information - Facilitate public commentary and debate over the public interest
Which amendment of the U.S. Constitution and which section of the Georgia Constitution provide *protections for the freedom of the press*?
- The First Amendment of the Constitution - Section 1 of the State of Georgia Constitution.
Be sure to know how the Supreme Court has interpreted *the freedom of the press*. Has it passed judgments to limit the freedom of press at all?
- They interpreted the freedom of expression as forbidding most, but not all, content-based restrictions on political expression. - The freedom of press is not absolute.
Two different ways media can mislead the public.
- being bias - use techniques to control the people.
when does *ideological bias* become a problem?
- if one is exposed to biased content from only one ideological viewpoint -problematic if it leads toward false or misleading reporting
the mediating role of the media has always been of concern. *Two general reasons it is of concern.*
1. The government can control people by controlling what's in the media. 2. Media biases or errors could mislead the public.
What are the main characteristics of *thematic*?
A thematic frame seeks to put the event in broader context and compare it to lober-term trends.
What are the main characteristics of *episodic*?
An episodic frame portrays an event as a stand-alone occurrence
the worst sources available, which should always be avoided: factually unreliable opinion, misinformation, and/or propaganda
Civic Poison
the best and healthiest political information, which should be consumed in abundance: factually reliable, ideologically diverse, but not ideologically extreme
Civic Salad
Which ideological group (liberals or conservatives) more often claims *the mainstream media to be ideologically biased against them*?
Conservatives/Republicans
Why is *Section 230* controversial in today's social media environment?
Critics contend that the liabilities publishers contend with lead them to take responsibility for the content they promote
Is *fairness doctrine* still in use today?
Ended in 1980s
What is *Section 230*?
Establishes that online platforms may not be sued for content posted by users on their site even if the platforms act like publishers
required licensed stations to cover controversial issues in a balanced manner by providing listeners with information about all perspectives on any controversial issue
Fairness doctrine
What is the *"marketplace of ideas"*?
Free press can facilitate public commentary and debate over the public interest and thereby enlighten and refine citizens' judgments about matters of public importance.
Where does the term *"the press"* come from?
It comes from Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the movable type printing press which allowed mass production of written expression.
How can *social media* provide a third democratic function?
It helps like-minded people find one another, notify each other of political events and participation opportunities, and encourage each other to take action and contribute.
What is the *"watchdog role"* of the press?
It is when the press investigates and alerts the public about government wrongdoings.
mediating role
Its potential to either enlighten or mislead the public because most people rely heavily on it to learn what the government is doing and to thereby hold it accountable.
Factually reliable information, but extreme left-wing ideological content that should be consumed, if at all, in moderation
Left/ Right-Wing Dessert
the idea that Internet Service Providers must treat all web traffic equally, and therefore may not be allowed to charge different rates or discriminate against different websites in any way.
Net neutrality
What is happening to *local newspapers* today and what impact is this having on the *watchdog role of the media at the local level of government*?
Newsroom employment in newspapers declined by 50% in the US between 2008 and 2019, which means that the ability of newspapers to act as a watchdog at the local level has diminished.
*The rise of the Information Revolution accompanied by the proliferation of cable news has helped create a political knowledge gap in the United States and elsewhere*. How does the textbook describe this process?
People uninterested in politics know less on the topic because they can choose among many other channels to watch. People interested in politics know even more because they have more sources of political news
Be sure to know the *chronological development* of *news media sources from oldest type to newest*.
Print media-> Radio coverage -> network television-> cable television-> the internet
In modern America, *soft news sources serve an important purpose in informing people*. What is that purpose, according to the textbook?
Raising awareness by sounding the alarm
What is meant be *"indecency regulations"*?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the authority to regulate obscene content like defamation.
What is meant by *unmediated communication*?
The ability for powerful officials to directly communicate with the public without going through traditional media's filters
What does *"freedom of the press"* typically mean today?
The freedom of journalists and news media organizations to report information without fear of censorship, financial penalty, imprisonment, abuse, or intimidation by government.
Media
The means of mass communication (newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and the internet) and the people and organizations (journalists, editors, news organizations) who use these channels of communication to inform the general public.
What is meant by *"ideological bias"*?
The systematic slanting of coverage in favor of one or more ideological or partisan orientation and against others
How do those two concepts relate to the two vital democratic functions of the free press mentioned previously?
They allow the press to move independently and freely.
Be sure to know which of these media are regulated by either the courts, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or both: o Newspapers: o Television: both o Radio: both o Cable: both o Satellite: both
US court (Newspaper); both (the rest)
What is meant by *"citizen journalism"*?
When citizens use their personal recording devices and cell phones to capture events and post them on the internet.
What is the debate around *net neutrality*?
Which companies should be able to set different prices
When (and why), according to textbooks, do current *FCC* regulations allow broadcasters to show indecent programming or air profane language?
between the hours of 10pm and 6pm because most children are in bed by those hours
*There are two main dimensions used to assess media sources*. Be sure to know and understand these dimensions.
factual reliability and ideological bias
Make sure to know if the following tend to be liberal or conservative: o Journalists: oOwners of (and shareholders) of major media organizations
liberal; conservative
What is *market bias*?
pervasive phenomenon influencing the content produced by the news media
