Aim: How does the media influence American government and politics?

1
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• WHAT ARE YOUR PRIMARY NEWS SOURCES?
• DO YOU GET NEWS ON A DAILY BASIS?

2
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• What are the five phases in journalistic history?
• Party press
• Popular press
• Magazines of opinion
• Electronic journalism
• The internet (and beyond)

3
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• How is it difficult for elected officials to gain
  access to the electronic media (radio, TV)?
• What about the President?
• How is media coverage the double-edge sword of
  American politics?
• Why has media coverage of politics contributed to
  the decline of political parties over the last
  few decades?

4
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• STRUCTURE OF MEDIA
• How competitive is todays media?
• Newspapers/print
• Radio/TV
• How regulated?
• Print media?
• TV/radio?

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7
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• STRUCTURE OF MEDIA
• How has increased competition in TV influenced
  political news coverage?
• What constitutes the National media?

8
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• STRUCTURE OF MEDIA
• Why is the existence of a national press
  important?
• How does the press act as a gatekeeper,
  scorekeeper, watchdog?
• How has the scorekeeper role influenced
  elections and campaigns in the U.S.?
• Has the media gone too far in its watchdog
  role? Explain.

9
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• What rules govern media?
• Newspaper v. electronic media
• Libel, obscenity, incitement
• Radio, TV licensed and regulated

10
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• What is the right of confidentiality?
• Is it an actual right? Should it be?

11
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• Rules Governing Media and Campaigning
• Equal-time rule
• Right-of-reply rule
• Political editorializing
• Fairness doctrine

12
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• How does the media affect politics?
• Definite influence on how we see issues
• What issues we cite as important, how we
  attribute responsibility, policy preferences
• How large is that effect?
• Dont know not enough scholarly research
• BUT, it has changed the way politics works
• Campaigns
• Role of political parties
• How does the media influence election outcomes?
• Presidential races?/local races?

13
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• What is selective attention? (look around the
  room) How does it limit the impact media
  coverage has on public opinion?
• When a broadcaster makes commentary how big of
  an impact does it have on you?
• What about election outcomes? (Presidential?/local
  ?)

14
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• Do local newspapers more often endorse Republican
  or Democratic candidates for the Presidency?
• Are journalists more liberal than the public at
  large?
• SEE POLLING DATA

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Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• The National Media (Media elite) is decidedly
  more liberal than the American public.
• Does this mean that news stories are slanted?
• What are the differences between routine stories,
  feature stories, and insider stories?

17
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• What factors offset the liberalism of the
  National Media in reporting political news?
  (What might keep the liberalism in check?)
• If most reporters hold liberal views, why hasnt
  the American public become more liberal?
• Could reporters alter public opinion if they
  tried?

18
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• Sohow should political news be interpreted?
  (credibility and bias)
• Who sees bigger differences between candidates
  newspaper readers or TV viewers? Explain.
• Media has major effect on how politics in
  conducted (specifically elections and campaigns).
  PROVIDE EXAMPLES candidates use of media
  media coverage of elections/campaigns

19
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• Government and News
• Shaping public opinion
• Prominence of President
• Coverage of Congress

20
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• Why is our government among the leakiest in the
  world?
• Constitutional arrangement
• No Official Secrets Act (like G.B.)
• Adversarial press less likely to accept word of
  elected official
• Look for real story, hence leaks

21
Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• Why so much sensationalism in the news?
• How has the rise of cynical reporting affected
  public perception of the media?
• What has happened to the public perception of the
  accuracy of the media?
• What has happened to public trust of the media?
• What factors do you believe have contributed to
  these trends?

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Aim How does the media influence American
government and politics?

• What constraints does the government have on
  journalists?
• Risks alienate sources v. becoming their
  mouthpiece
• Government tools to fight back
• Numerous press officers in legislative and
  executive branches
• Press releases canned news
• Leaks to favorite reporters
• Go local
• President rewards and punishes members of press