Chapter 17- The Media

-The American Media (exception of pbs) needs to make a profit, so they sell to advertisers.

1970s- Woodward and Bernstein crack the Watergate case (Washington Post)

1980s- Expansive TV coverage of the Iran-Contra scandal (network Tv) SCANDALS, NOT JUST NORMAL NEWS. HIGHER RATINGS MORE ENTRAINMENT

1990s- Cable TV networks begin 24/7 coverage of Clinton Impeachment

200S- Role of the internet in changing media as we know it. (60 minutes story on George W. Bush National Guard). The killing of bin Laden first appeared on Twitter. (False media, media contributes to false information.)

Old Media: Print TV, News, Cable news

New Media: Social Media

Infotainment: Mixing humor and politics by providing information but also injecting entertainment.

Media Framing: Setting a context for understanding events and matters if shared interest

Public Agenda: Public issues that most demand the attention of government officials

Priming- Using their coverage to bring particular policies on issues to the public agenda

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1966 (FOIA)- The government is required to release information if asked, the government cannot withhold information for you.

Sunshine Laws: In the state level, any meeting of more than 2 individuals is considering a public meeting and must be announced to the public.

FCC- License to operate as a media station by the government. They must be doing something for the benefit of the community.

1790s-1830s: the press served primarily as a vehicle for the leaders of political parties

Penny Press: a newspaper that sold for a penny

Yellow Journalism: Sensational reporting, trying to make stories more exciting for money

Conservative bias in radio, liberal bias in television

Gatekeeper: Determine what subjects are cared about and for how long

Scorekeeper: When someone gets a lot of media attention and it contributes to their reputation (coming out of nowhere) (election time)

Watchdog: Reports on all the bad things, keeps close scrutiny (election time)

Narrowcasting- News do not advertise to every single American/demographics, so they aim at a particular audience

Media Consolidation: Large corporations buyout smaller corporations (EXAMPLE: new stations).

New York Times v. United States: The right of the media to be restricted by the government. President Nixon hiding military secrets from American public about the Vietnam War. New York Times given military secrets. Can the first amendment protect this? Pentagon papers are released. Nixon administration sues New York Times, publication of top secret infomation harms national security. Protect National security or top secret infomation? It is ruled that the Nixon administration was violating the 1st amendment. “Prior Restraint” = the government cannot punish someone for something BEFORE they have done it. Infomation leaked happened in past, so the troops were not in harm currently. 1st amendment is 1st for a reason.

Horse-race journalism- Focusing on who’s ahead rather than the actual issues

Confidentiality of Sources- Some states (34, including OHIO) have laws protecting confidential sources. The press does not have to give up any sources. The federal government does not protect these laws, will demand to have sources.

Near v. Minnesota (1931): State governments were trying to restrict freedom of press since not specified in Constitution.States loss, found unconstitutional

NY Times v. Sullivan: MLK jailed, New York Times wrote about it (partially false infomation). Police Chief who arrested sued, and lost because most things written were true. To be sued for defamation, it has to be false AND causes harm.

Miami Herald v. Tornillo: Rebuttal to scandoulous story, guy tries to get Miami Herald to post rebutall. Did not have the right to force to post, as the Miami Herald was a privately owned company.