Mass Media

Mass media

Television, radio, newspaper, magazines, internet.

Commercials in presidential campaigns

About 60% of a presidential campaign's budget (usually negative). Critical for politicians (presidents).

POTUS and the media

The President devotes effort to their public image and to controlling interaction with media.

Reelection odds for people already in office

90% likely to be reelected.

Media history: prior to 1800s

Relied heavily on print journalism.

Media history: 1930s-40s

Radio was everywhere. People listened to FDR and his fireside chats.

Media history: 1940s and post-World War II

TV in every home; hard to hide things.

1960 presidential debate (Kennedy vs. Nixon)

The first debates made on TV. Radio listeners believed Nixon won, but Kennedy won by TV.

Media history: 1980s and 1990s

Internet boom. Variety of viewing options; audiences fragment. Remote news broadcast; end of the golden age of network news. News is now continuous.

Print media

Newspaper = free press. The 1st Amendment lets newspapers expose government's failures without fear of censorship. Newspapers are in decline.

Communications Act of 1934

An act to provide for the regulation of interstate and foreign communication by wire or radio. Created the FCC to regulate radio, TV, and cable.

Communications Act of 1934: limits monopolies

Meant to stop one company from dominating the market. It is rare for a station to lose its license.

Communications Act of 1934: station requirements

Stations must preserve the public interest. Fair treatment rule: if a station sells advertising to one candidate, it must allow anyone (else) to buy. Right of reply rule.

Telecommunications Act of 1996

Loosened ownership limits. Promotes competition and reduces regulation in order to secure lower prices and higher quality services.

Conglomerate

Massive corporations that own a lot of things.

Media conglomerates

The 1996 act allowed media conglomerates to get bigger (massive media conglomerates that control almost three-quarters of the nation's daily newspapers). Ownership is concentrated.

Yellow journalism

Presents little or no legitimate, well-researched news; uses eye-catching headlines to sell more papers.

Narrowcasting

The new norm: most stations are gearing themselves toward this (targeting specific audiences).

Infotainment

A series of hard news (info + entertainment).

Breaking news

Coverage of a significant event; interrupts scheduled programs; live coverage.

Talk radio and podcasts

Sit and talk about the news. Audio and video format; targets a specific type of viewer; interview people about current events.

Outrage discourse

Misleading claims or falsehoods meant to get strong reactions from viewers.

Selective exposure

Seeking out information that supports your views (confirmation bias).

Information on devices

Makes it easier to be politically informed, but celebrity news > actual news.

Social media and misinformation

Communications -> Insta (social media) -> fake news -> misinformation. Result: trust in national news has declined among Republicans and Democrats.

Mushrooming

Feeding the press crap and keeping them in the dark.

Bias in media

No systematic bias, but it is undeniable that journalists are more liberal. Entertainment > informative.

Talking head

Informal term used to describe the very common shot of a TV presenter or other person talking directly to the audience.

News and public opinion

Television news can affect what people think is important. Media influences the criteria by which the public evaluates political leaders. Focuses on misstatements.

Media agenda

Setting the policy agenda: topics the public believes to be important.

Policy agenda

Issues that attract the serious attention of public officials.

Policy entrepreneurs

People who invested their political 'capital' in an issue. Success depends on good images (and the media).

Role of the press in politics

Keeping track of and making political reputations; investigating scandals and political personalities. New proposals are met with skepticism, which restricts what government can do.

TV furthers individualism

Gives the public the opportunity to evaluate political candidates directly; can get an in-person view of each candidate to guide voting decisions; removes the need for political parties.

TV focuses on individuals

Personality > substance for political candidates. Focus on POTUS > Congress/SCOTUS.

Democracy and media

'Information is the fuel of democracy.' Political competence would be greatly increased.

Superficial by demand

Profit motive again: appealing to a large audience; public demand is high.

Media's role in government

They provide information; thought to be the 4th branch of government along with the bureaucracy; monitor policies and politicians; report on government action and inaction; act as a check on the government.

Complaints about the media

Blamed for America's lack of knowledge; coverage of trivial or insignificant news; the 'fake news' trend (what does that even mean?).