Media's Role in Democracy and Journalism

Importance of Media in American Democracy

• Media acts as a linkage institution in a democratic system, much like political parties and interest groups.
• It connects the elite, who make decisions, to the mass public.

Role of Media

• Agenda Setting:
  • Media determines which issues are prioritized in public discourse. Out of countless ongoing events, media decides which are covered and how extensively.
  • This influences what the public thinks is important and how they should perceive it.
• Framing:
  • The way media presents an issue affects public perception. For example, an issue covered with positive visuals might signal that it is favorable, while negative visuals imply the opposite.

Choices Made by Media

• Journalists and media organizations select stories based on perceived importance or relevance to their audience. This selection can skewer public sensitivity and awareness.
• Media coverage reflects the interests and biases of the organizations that produce it.

Specific Examples of Media Coverage

• An extensive media focus on individual stories might highlight broader societal issues, like the experience of undocumented immigrants and governmental policies affecting them.
• In contrast, stories that may seem trivial, such as a subgroup going to space, may receive disproportionate media attention.

Comparison of Media Sources

• Different outlets frame news events differently, e.g., headlines from MSNBC versus Fox News may reflect contrasting ideological viewpoints in their choice of words and focus.
• Example of Coverage Discrepancy:
  • MSNBC frames issues to benefit the Democratic Party, often highlighting negative aspects of Republican actions, while Fox News does the opposite.

Roles of Journalists

1. Gatekeeper:
   • Journalists decide what news is covered and how. This includes determining sources and angles on a story.
2. Disseminator:
   • Act of sharing information. The effectiveness of media in relaying crucial information, particularly in emergencies, is paramount.
3. Investigator:
   • Journalists fact-check information given to them. They investigate claims made by politicians or figures in authority before presenting them to the public.
4. Advocate:
   • Some media outlets actively encourage public action or awareness, pushing agendas based on their biases.

The Landscape of Modern Journalism

• The rise of technology and social media has created a landscape where everyone with a smartphone could be seen as a journalist.
• Traditional outlets face challenges from aggregators that compile news from multiple sources, creating less dependency on singular outlets.
• The decline of trust in news media has been significant, as various political figures exploit this distrust, labeling unfavorable coverage as "fake news."

Effects of Media Consolidation

• In the 1980s, 50 companies controlled most media in the U.S.; that number has shrunk to just 4 companies today, which raises concerns about diversity of thought and democracy.
• This consolidation means fewer voices and viewpoints shaping public discourse, which can harm informed citizenship.

Challenges Facing Journalism Today

• Revolving Doors: Movement of journalists to and from political positions, raising questions about their impartiality.
• Declining Reporting Quality: A trend towards analysis vice purely reporting facts, leading to increased bias in the news presented.
• Feeding Frenzies: Play into sensational stories at the cost of meaningful coverage, leading to a cycle of poor information diet for the public.

Measuring Trust in the Media

• Trust in media has declined dramatically from over 70% in the 1970s to around 30% today.
• Analysis of news sources shows that those providing reliable and unbiased news have become harder to find.

The Mediated Citizen Concept

• Citizens increasingly interact with a variety of media sources shaping their perceptions, opinions, and actions which has significant implications for democracy.
• A commercial bias in media emphasizes profit over informing the public, highlighting the risks to a well-functioning democratic society that relies on accurate and trustworthy information.