The Media - Key Points

The Media Overview

• Influence of Age on News Sources:

  • Baby boomers prefer television for news.

  • Generation X and millennials mostly use social media.

• Media Ownership:

  • 1983: 50 companies owned 90% of U.S. media.

  • 2012: 6 conglomerates controlled 90% of U.S. media outlets.

• Historical Context:

  • Benjamin Day started the first U.S. penny press, "The Sun," in 1833.

  • "Golden Age of Radio" (1930s) featured popular comedy shows.

• Presidential Communication:

  • FDR used radio for "fireside chats" during the 1930s.

  • Clinton and Bush engaged with the public during crises (Oklahoma City bombing, 9/11).

• Television Journalism:

  • Edward R. Murrow raised network news visibility through television.

• Impact of Soft News:

  • Stephen Colbert brought political issues to a wider audience via entertainment.

• Libel Cases:

  • John Peter Zenger case highlighted freedom of press and libel defense.

• Campaign Coverage:

  • Media coverage is increasingly negative and biased, particularly in the 2012 campaign.

• Gender and Media:

  • Coverage of female candidates often focuses on personal backgrounds, affecting their political participation.