The Role of Media in American Democracy and Society

What is referred to as the 'fourth estate'?

The press or media, which plays a crucial role in society and governance.

What are the three branches of the US Government?

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.

What normative ideas underpin the role of the press?

Press freedom, right to know, freedom of expression, and the First Amendment.

What legal protections do the press enjoy?

The press has legal protections and privileges that allow them to operate freely.

How has American trust in mass media changed over time?

Trust has fluctuated, with a trend from low to high confidence, but currently, there is a loss of confidence.

What are the evaluation criteria for the performance of the media?

Providing objective information, being timely and relevant, ensuring accuracy, citing sources, and maintaining credibility.

What are the three important functions of media in democratic societies?

1. Providing a forum for candidates/parties to debate, 2. Contributing to informed citizenship, 3. Serving as a watchdog to scrutinize government actions.

What challenges do candidates face in accessing media in the US?

High entry costs, lack of guaranteed free access, and active filtering by news media.

How does media coverage of candidates differ in the US compared to most EU countries?

In the US, candidates must pay for airtime, while many EU countries provide free airtime to major political parties.

What is the impact of expensive election campaigns in the US?

They discourage free airtime for candidates and lead to media framing and spin.

What is the public's general interest level in politics according to the notes?

The public is generally uninterested in politics, leading to less informed citizens.

What role does the media play in informing the public about elections?

The media is responsible for informing the public to enable participation and voting.

What is the ideal of attentive citizens in relation to media?

The ideal is that citizens are well-informed and engaged in political processes.

What does the term 'watchdog' refer to in the context of media?

The media's role in scrutinizing government actions on behalf of the public.

What is a significant barrier to free access in media?

The commercial nature of media, which prioritizes profit over free access.

How do media outlets influence the perception of candidates?

Through news coverage, commercials, and debates, often framing the candidates' messages.

What is a consequence of media's active framing of political coverage?

It can distort public perception and understanding of candidates and issues.

What is the significance of providing a forum for debate in media?

It allows for diverse viewpoints and discussions, essential for a democratic society.

How does the media contribute to informed citizenship?

By providing timely and relevant information about important issues.

What is the relationship between media performance and public trust?

Underperforming media can lead to decreased public trust and confidence.

What is a common criticism of the media's performance in the US?

That it is underperforming in its role to inform and engage the public.

What characterizes monitorial citizens in a democracy?

They are not fully attentive but selectively pay attention to important issues, monitoring continuously.

What is the focus of soft news in media coverage?

Soft news emphasizes personalities, character, and small mistakes, often presenting a narrow range of perspectives on controversial issues.

What is the neutral adversary model in journalism?

It positions the media as a 'whistle blower' that monitors the government, exemplified by events like Watergate and Vietnam.

What is the trend of officialized news in American journalism?

It relies heavily on official sources, such as the White House and Pentagon, leading to a reduction in diverse reporting.

How does the American news media compare to other industrialized countries?

Overall, it does not rate highly and is perceived as underperforming.

What are some reasons for the underperformance of American media?

Market forces, more private ownership, and less regulatory policy contribute to its shortcomings.

What is the primary ownership model of media in the US?

The US media system is 99% commercial and private.

How does the public broadcasting model differ from the commercial model?

Public broadcasting is funded by the public and serves the public good, while commercial broadcasting relies on advertising and subscriptions.

What is the role of public funding in public broadcasting?

Publicly funded broadcasters must provide minimal levels of public affairs content and represent diverse viewpoints.

What is an example of a country with a controlled public broadcasting system?

Singapore and North Korea are examples where the system is tightly controlled.

What is the 'trusteeship' approach in broadcasting?

It grants public resources to broadcasters who pledge to act in the public interest.

What agency is responsible for enforcing public interest standards in US broadcasting?

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is responsible for setting and enforcing these requirements.

What is a mixed model in media ownership?

It includes both publicly-owned and privately-owned broadcasting stations, common in both the US and EU.

Why are public broadcasters stronger in Europe compared to the US?

Public channels are more popular and integrated into the media landscape in EU countries, unlike in the US.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum considered in the context of public broadcasting?

It is viewed as a scarce public resource that must be used for the public good.

What is the impact of competitive market pressures on media responsibilities?

They often lead media to neglect their civic responsibilities.

What is the significance of the Golden Triangle in American journalism?

It refers to the reliance on official sources like the White House, Pentagon, and State Department for news.

What is the effect of soft news on public discourse?

It can lead to a narrow understanding of important issues due to its focus on personalities and minor events.

How does the public broadcasting system in the EU differ from that in the US?

The EU combines public and private ownership, while the US has a predominantly commercial system.

What is the consequence of having a small public broadcasting sector in the US?

It limits the diversity of viewpoints and public affairs content available to the audience.

What is the relationship between public funding and content diversity in public broadcasting?

Public funding requires broadcasters to represent diverse regions, cultures, and viewpoints in their programming.

What was the role of the FCC in the early years of broadcast media?

The FCC had strict requirements for public affairs programming.

What significant legislation in 1998 impacted media deregulation in the US?

The Telecommunications Act opened up media and played a role in deregulation.

What are some consequences of media deregulation in the US?

Increased local news programming, more soft news, and ownership concentration leading to narrow perspectives.

How does the FCC's approach to regulation differ between print media and broadcasters?

The government tries to be more protective of print media while exerting more control over broadcasters.

What is the Fairness Doctrine?

A regulation that required broadcasters to devote airtime to discussing controversial public interest matters and to air contrasting views.

What is the Equal Time Rule?

A requirement to provide equal opportunities for opposing candidates, applicable only to news and not to commercial content.

What is the impact of ownership restrictions in media?

Restrictions like the ban on cross-ownership aim to prevent concentration of media ownership.

What is news framing?

A concept that describes how the presentation of news can influence interpretation and perception.

What is the difference between gain framing and loss framing?

Gain framing emphasizes positive outcomes, while loss framing emphasizes negative outcomes, affecting decision-making.

What are episodic and thematic framing in news?

Episodic framing focuses on individual episodes or stories, while thematic framing looks at broader concepts or systems.

How do Tversky and Kahneman's studies relate to news framing?

Their studies on gains and losses illustrate how identical dilemmas can be presented differently, influencing perceptions.

What is the significance of the Fairness Doctrine being abolished?

It removed the requirement for broadcasters to present contrasting views on controversial issues.

What does the term 'ownership concentration' refer to in media?

The trend where a few mainstream media companies control a large share of news reporting.

What is the regulatory 'double standard' mentioned in the notes?

The differing levels of government protection and control between print media and broadcasters.

What is the role of subsidies in media regulation?

Financial support that can influence media programming and diversity.

What is the difference between episodic and thematic news narratives?

Episodic narratives focus on specific events and personal stories, while thematic narratives address broader societal issues.

What is meant by 'semantically different cues' in news framing?

The use of different terms or definitions that can alter the perception of the same issue, such as 'poor people' vs. 'economically disadvantaged'.

What is the current trend of the FCC's approach to media regulation?

The FCC is adopting a more laissez-faire approach with an emphasis on free-market competition.

How do EU media regulations compare to those in the US?

EU countries have tighter control over media programming despite some commercialization.

What is the impact of media deregulation on public affairs information?

While there are regulations requiring public affairs information, deregulation has led to a focus on profit-driven content.

What does 'diversity of perspectives' mean in the context of media regulation?

The requirement for media to present a range of viewpoints, particularly in political coverage.

What are the two types of frames mentioned in relation to public reactions?

Issue/context-specific frames (e.g., embryonic stem cell research) and more generic frames (e.g., episodic vs. thematic).

What is the role of the press in a democracy according to the notes?

The press is viewed as the fourth estate, a powerful institution expected to enhance democracy.

Why does the US news media fall short of normative expectations?

Due to market forces and regulatory policy.

What is one consequence of the weak performance of news media in the US?

People are under-informed or provided misinformation.

How does the political knowledge of US citizens compare to that of European citizens?

US citizens are generally less informed than their European counterparts.

What percentage of the federal budget do many Americans mistakenly believe goes to foreign aid?

25%.

What is the average amount of news and public affairs programming aired by the BBC during primetime on weekdays?

2.2 hours.

How much news programming do NBC, CBS, and ABC average during primetime?

Only one hour each.

What is the 'inadvertent audience' in the context of public broadcasting?

An audience that is reached through frequent news bulletins aired during prime time, even if they are uninterested in politics.

What is the significance of 'inadvertent exposure' in media consumption?

It helps explain the smaller knowledge gap in Europe compared to the US.

What are the characteristics of the US media system compared to European systems?

The US has a market-oriented, unregulated media system that systematically under-produces serious news.

What factors contribute to differences in consumer demand for news?

Differences in political culture and civic norms.

What historical change led to the development of the commercial press in the US?

Advancements in printing technology and the increase in revenue from advertising.

What was the state of newspapers in the US in the 1870s?

Nearly 90% of all dailies were affiliated with one of the two political parties.

What led to significant declines in newspaper circulation?

Changes in lifestyle and the requirement for the audience's undivided attention.

How has the focus of American political campaigns shifted in recent years?

There is more focus on candidates as individuals rather than on party-centered campaigns.

What technological developments have influenced media politics in the US?

Population growth and the weakening of political parties.

What is the impact of media politics on political campaigns?

It leads to a greater focus on candidates as individuals rather than on issues.

How does the media system in the US differ from that in Europe regarding public broadcasters?

Except for the US, public broadcasters dominate the market share in Europe.

What is the average percentage of peak hour broadcasts devoted to current affairs by the BBC?

22.1%.

What is the relationship between media consumption and political knowledge?

Lower media consumption is associated with lower political knowledge.

What is one reason for the difference in civic information supply between the US and Europe?

The existence of an inadvertent audience for news in Europe.

What factors contribute to the decline in newspaper readership?

The increase in dual-worker households and the amount of time devoted to work-related activities.

What media gradually replaced print outlets as the major carriers of news?

Radio in the 1920s and television in the 1950s.

What was significant about the national newscasts in the 1960s-70s?

In 1969, the combined audience for national newscasts by ABC, CBS, and NBC accounted for three-fourths of all American households.

How did cable broadcasting in the 1980s affect network news?

It weakened the dominance of network news due to the proliferation of local news programming.

What happens to the market share of cable news providers during international tension or conflict?

The market share increases.

What are the characteristics of local news programming?

It can be delivered continuously, produced at low cost, and draw more audience with local information.

What is the two-level system in American media?

It consists of national networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) and local stations.

What is a DMA in the context of local news stations?

Designated Market Areas, which correspond to metropolitan areas but can include multiple counties in less urban regions.

How is the American media system characterized?

It is market-driven rather than government-driven.

What is the relationship between public affairs programming and entertainment demand?

The demand for public affairs programming is weak compared to entertainment programming.

How do big media conglomerates operate in local markets?

In many markets, the same owner operates both the major newspaper and the top-rated local television station.

What phenomenon describes people's perception of media bias based on their political views?

The 'Hostile media phenomenon' describes how people with strong political views see the media as biased.

What is the 'Friendly media phenomenon'?

People tend to view the media they use most often as favoring their own views.

Which group tends to perceive stronger media bias?

Perceptions of media bias tend to be stronger among Republicans.

What are the three American values highlighted in the notes?

Individualism, Equality, and Informality.