Comprehensive Guide to Media Evolution: Partisan, Objective, and Broadcast Journalism

What is news?

An account of obtruding events, particularly those that are timely, dramatic, and compelling.

What characterized early U.S. newspapers?

They were not neutral and were used to support political parties and leaders.

Who supported the Gazette of the United States?

Alexander Hamilton, who supported the government of George Washington.

What was the National Gazette?

An opposition paper supported by Thomas Jefferson.

How did early newspapers survive financially?

They depended on government support and political parties due to high production costs and few readers.

What is the 'Partisan Press'?

Newspapers that openly supported one political side, often biased and opinionated.

What technological advancement allowed for fast sharing of national news?

The telegraph in the mid-1800s.

What impact did improvements in the printing press have on newspapers?

Allowed for faster, cheaper printing and increased production of newspapers.

How did advertising revenue change the newspaper industry?

Newspapers began to make money from ads instead of relying on political support, leading to less partisanship.

What is Yellow Journalism?

A late 1800s style of news that was sensational, exaggerated, and focused on drama to sell papers.

Who were key figures in Yellow Journalism?

William Randolph Hearst and Joseph Pulitzer.

What famous quote is attributed to Hearst regarding media and war?

'You furnish the pictures, I'll furnish the war.'

What is Objective Journalism?

Reporting based on facts, fairness, and avoiding bias, allowing readers to form their own opinions.

Who bought The New York Times in 1896 and aimed for less partisanship?

Adolph Ochs.

What was the purpose of the Communications Act of 1934?

To create the FCC and regulate radio/TV stations for fair political coverage.

What did the Fairness Doctrine require from broadcasters?

To present both sides of important issues and not favor one political view.

What is the Information Commons?

A shared set of facts most Americans received, leading to a common understanding of politics.

What significant change occurred in 1987 regarding media regulation?

The FCC removed the Fairness Doctrine.

Why did news outlets report similar stories in similar ways?

Due to objective journalism rules and reliance on shared sources like the Associated Press.

What role did journalism schools play in the evolution of news media?

They helped train reporters to follow professional standards and promote objective journalism.

What was a major consequence of the rise of cable TV and partisan media?

Increased polarization and the emergence of media outlets catering to specific political views.

What is the significance of the term 'partisan media'?

Media that explicitly supports a particular political ideology or party.

What happened to radio and TV stations after the Fairness Doctrine was removed?

They were no longer required to be balanced and dropped news segments.

What major shift occurred in media after the Fairness Doctrine's removal in 1987?

A rise in partisan media and less shared information.

What did the Fairness Doctrine require from media outlets?

Balanced political coverage, including both liberal and conservative views.

What was a significant result of the removal of the Fairness Doctrine?

The explosion of talk radio, with many stations adopting a conservative slant.

What are key characteristics of modern talk shows?

They are more opinionated and emotional, focusing less on facts.

What was the audience growth for talk radio in the 1990s?

The audience grew 10 times in less than 10 years, reaching about 20 million weekly listeners.

How did cable television change the media landscape?

It was not regulated like broadcast TV, allowing for more freedom in content.

What was the first cable news channel?

CNN, created by Ted Turner in 1980.

What was the approach of Fox News when it launched in 1996?

It adopted a more conservative viewpoint and targeted viewers who distrusted traditional media.

What is the significance of the term 'agenda setting' in media?

It refers to how media influences what people think about, not necessarily what they think. (if the media gives a lot of coverage to a topic, the public is more likely to see it as important)

What was the impact of increased crime coverage in the early 1990s?

Public perception shifted, with many believing crime was the top issue, despite actual crime rates decreasing.

What are the three main functions of the media?

Signaling function, common-carrier function, and watchdog function.

What does the signaling function of media do?

Alerts the public to important events quickly.

What is the common-carrier function of media?

Acts as a middleman between government leaders and the public.

What is the watchdog function of media?

Investigates and exposes corruption, lies, and abuse of power.

What major political scandal did the media expose in the 1970s?

The Watergate scandal, which led to President Nixon's resignation.

What is 'partisan media'?

Media that promotes a specific political side rather than being neutral.

What is 'outrage media'?

Media that relies on emotional reactions and drama to engage viewers.

How has news become more like entertainment?

To attract viewers in a competitive media environment.

What is the difference between 'hard news' and 'soft news'?

Hard news covers serious topics like politics, while soft news includes celebrity gossip and emotional stories.

What effect has digital media had on news coverage?

It allows media to track trending topics and maximize attention through click-driven headlines.

What are the three types of audiences in the new media system?

Traditional audience, partisan audience, and inattentive audience.

What is a key criticism of the traditional news audience?

They tend to be less informed due to the entertainment focus of news.

What demographic primarily makes up the traditional news audience?

Mostly older Americans who grew up with newspapers and scheduled TV news.

What is the impact of entertainment-centered news?

It leads to less serious political coverage and more focus on celebrity and human-interest stories.

What warning did Neil Postman give regarding news as entertainment?

People may feel informed but actually be less informed.

Echo chamber

the information citizens receive aligns with their partisan loyalty.

What is a disadvantage of echo chambers?

Lack of diverse viewpoints, increase polarization, easier spread of misinformation (false info isn’t challenged, people may start believing things that aren’t true)

Fractured media system

The media landscape is split into many different sources and audiences, instead of everyone getting information from a few shared outlets.

Ailen and Seditions Act

They were laws that targeted immigrants and limited free speech, especially criticism of the government.

Made it harder for immigrants to become citizens, allowed the president to deport foreigners seen as dangerous, allowed detention of people from enemy countries during wartime

What did Alien acts do?

Sedition act

Made it illegal to criticize the government or the president, people could be fined or jailed for speaking or writing against them

Why was Alien and Sedition Acts controversial?

Violated freedom of speech (First Amendment), used to silence political opponents, seen as an abuse of power

Information Commons

a time (or system) where most people get their news from the same limited set of shared sources.

Common carrier function

a company or service that transmits information for the public without controlling or editing the content.

Adolf Ochs

Came up with objective journalism, believed news should be accurate, fact-based, unbiased (no personal opinions)

• Newspapers were politically biased (supported specific parties)

• Expensive to produce → funded by political groups

• Audience was smaller and more elite

Partisan press

• Faster and cheaper to print newspapers

• More copies = wider audience

• enables media to become independent from party

Printing press

style of news reporting that uses exaggeration, drama, and sometimes false information to attract attention and sell more newspapers.

Yellow journalism

Short form social media

Fast, trendy, high-virality content (tiktok, memes)

Long form social media

deeper, meaningful, long-lasting content (podcasts, documentary)

Advantages for long form social media

Very informative, feels more genuine, deeper understanding

Advantages of short form social media

Practical and relevant

Disadvantages of long form social media

Disadvantages of short term social media

Fairness Doctrine

required broadcast media (like radio and television stations) to present important public issues in a fair and balanced way.

Equal Time Rule (1934)

If a broadcast station gives airtime to one political candidate, it must offer equal opportunities to other candidates running for the same office.

Partisan Journalism

type of journalism that clearly supports a particular political party, ideology, or point of view, rather than trying to remain neutral or objective (appealing to the interests of people).

Framing

the way a story, issue, or event is presented or “packaged” to influence how people interpret and understand it. It’s about the angle, context, or emphasis that shapes perception (used to shape public perception)

Media bias

perceived or real tendency of media outlets to report news in a way that favors certain viewpoints, opinions, or interests, rather than presenting information neutrally

FCC v. Pacifica (1978)

ruled that indecent language can’t be aired on public channels during the daytime because children might be watching, but it’s allowed late at night for an adult audience

Misinformation

false or inaccurate information that is spread without the intent to deceive

Malinformaiton

true information that is used in a harmful or misleading way

Disinformation

false information that is spread on purpose to mislead people.

Advertising effects

refer to the ways that advertisements influence people’s attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. In political science or media studies, this usually focuses on how ads affect voters or consumers