Chapter 12

The Media

1. What role do the media play in American

politics?
2. Why are there so few restrictions on media
coverage of politics and politicians in the
United States?
3. How much power do the media have?
4. How has technology changed interactions
between public officials and the media?
5. Can we trust the media to be fair?

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Learning Objectives

WHO GOVERNS?
1. How much power do the media have?
2. Can we trust the media to be fair?

TO WHAT ENDS?
1. What public policies will the media
support?

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Introduction

 Commitment to a free press

Stronger than in Europe
Freedom of Information Act
Unrestricted internet access

Privately owned media

Must make profit
Media bias

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The Media and Politics

 The Party Press

The Popular Press
Magazines of Opinion
Electronic Journalism
Radio (1920s)
Television (late 1940s)

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Journalism in American
Political History

News used to come by radio, but today many people read newspapers
on iPads and other electronic devices.

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Journalism in American
Political History

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Evening News Audience

Continues a 30-Year Decline

 The Internet
Blogs
Social media

Blogs, both conservative

and liberal, have become
an important form of
political advertising.

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Journalism in American
Political History

 Degree of Competition
Newspaper Readership Falls for Most Age Groups

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The Structure of the Media

 The National Media

Gatekeeper
Scorekeeper
Watchdog

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The Structure of the Media

10

Newspapers
Least governmental
regulation
No license required
No prior restraint

Least competitive

Radio and TV
Most governmental
regulation
License needed
FCC regulates

Most competitive

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Rules Governing the Media

11

 Confidentiality of Sources
Regulating Broadcasting
FCC and public service
Equal time rule

Campaigning
Horse-race journalism

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Rules Governing the Media

12

1. Do members of the media have a

distinctive political attitude?
2. Does that attitude affect what they
write or say?
3. Does what they write or say affect
what citizens believe?

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Are the National Media

Biased?

13

 A Liberal Majority
Neutral and Objective?
Routine stories
Feature stories
Insider stories
Trial balloon
Loaded language

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Are the National Media

Biased?

14

 Medias Influence
Selective attention
Some limits to influence
Coverage affects candidates and
presidential popularity

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Are the National Media

Biased?

15

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Credibility Ratings for Many

News Organizations Have Declined
in the 21st Century

16

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Credibility Ratings for Many

News Organizations Have Declined
in the 21st Century

17

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Credibility Ratings for Many

News Organizations Have Declined
in the 21st Century

18

 Prominence of the President

Coverage of Congress

When President
Theodore
Roosevelt
cultivated the
media, reporters
usually were
unknown and
poorly paid.

Copyright 2015 Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.

Government and the News

19

 Why Do We Have So Many News

Leaks?
Constitution
Adversarial press

Sensationalism in the Media

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Government and the News

20

 Government Constraints on Journalists

Reporters need access; maintain balance
(expressing views vs. keeping sources)
Four ways to communicate:
On the record
Off the record
On background
On deep background

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Government and the News

21

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The Maxims of Media

Relations

22

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Koran Burning Threatens

Instability

23

Click picture to play video

Taking a closer look:

1. Why did Jones threaten to burn the
Koran?
2. Did media coverage of this story
constitute sensationalism? In other
words, was this really news?
3. Should the media act as gatekeeper
when volatile issues are involved?

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Koran Burning Threatens

Instability

24