The News Media

Roots of News Media

• Mass media – entire array of organizations which collect and disseminate info to the public.

• News media – provide new info about subjects of public interest.

• Print med – newspapers, magazines, newsletters, journals

• Partisan press – news media are organs of political parties.

• Penny press – New York Sun was first – more profit oriented media. Free from single political party. Forerunner of modern newspapers.

• Yellow journalism – late 19th century – pictures, comics, color, sensationalized stories – goal was mass circulation to maximize profits.

• Muckraking – early 20th century – reform government and business conduct – focus was issue oriented and used investigative reporting – higher standard of factual accuracy.

• Broadcast media – television, radio, cable, satellite services.

• Radio news – KDKA first station – broadcast results of 1920 election – talk shows

• Television news – by 1970’s was chief provider of news – recently comedy news shows are popular – The Daily Show with Jon Stewart – The Colbert report – evolved from Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update.

• New media – internet• Blogs – web-based journal entries

Current Trends

• Media consolidation – dynamics of business are pushing firms to consolidate for larger market shares and financial survival – possible problems – manipulation of the news – focus on entertainment and sensational issues.

• Use of experts – pundits – “talking heads” – hired to discuss the issues of the day. Why? What is the potential problem here?

• Narrow casting – targeting of programming to specific populations.

• Citizen journalism – collecting, reporting, and analyzing of news by people who are not professional journalists.

Rules of Governing the News Media

• Journalistic standards – professional norms and journalists level of integrity - oversight by editors.

• On background – info provided not attributed to a named source.

• Deep background – not attributed to any source.• Off the record – info provided that is not released

to the public.• On the record – can be released and attributed to

a named source.

• Government regulation of electronic media – airwaves are considered public property and are leased to broadcasters by federal government.

• Telecommunications Act of 1996 – deregulated segments of electronic media to provide optimal balance of corporate interests, technological innovations, and consumer needs.

• Result was merger of distinct kinds of media – Viacom, Time Warner, Comcast.

• Content regulation – attempt by government to control substance of mass media.

• Equal time rule – must sell airtime equally to all candidates in a campaign.

Covering Politics

• Press release – document offering an official comment of position.

• Press briefing – restricted session between press secretary and press.

• Press conference – unrestricted session between an elected official and the press.

Toward Reform

• Media effect – influence of news sources un public opinion – effect is limited – mostly on independents – very limited on domestic issues. Why?

• Agenda setting – process of forming list of issues to be addressed by the government. Example?

• Framing – defining a political issue - affects opinion about the issue.

• Media bias to the left – many are Democratic in party affiliation and voting habits – Actually probably more moderate than anything.

• Media bias to the right – Corporate interests may balance left-leanings of reporters – conservative bias may be more pervasive – most journalists are white, male, highly educated, and relatively affluent – may ignore issues of racial and ethnic minorities, poor, and others critical of big business.

• Dynamics of contemporary media bias – recent bias is intentional. Why?

• Narrowcasting – one-sided message to secure competitive edge in niche market. Example?

• What causes the deepest bias among political journalists?

• Public confidence in the media – unfavorable – Pew research found that 29% of respondents to a poll said that media gets facts straight. 63% believe press is often inaccurate.