Key Points: Media (Ch. 8)
- Mass Media is the collection of all forms of media that communicate information to the public, including television, print, radio, and Internet.
- Citizens turn to the media for news and expect concise, neutral coverage.
News Sources and Consumption in the U.S.
- Print: 26\% of adults get news in print (lowest in surveys).
- Broadcast: 63\% get news from TV at least sometimes; 33\% do so often. 26\% get news from the radio often or sometimes.
- Digital: 86\% of adults get news from digital devices at least sometimes; 57\% do so often.
Main Trends in News Sources
- Figure 7.1 shows sources including radio, TV, newspaper, Internet with historical data across years (1991–2013).
- TV, Radio, Magazine/Newspaper, Online (Facebook, Twitter, TikTok).
- Platforms include BBC, CBS, CNN, Facebook, FOX, NPR, Rush Limbaugh, Twitter, Wall Street Journal, YouTube; demographics (Baby Boomer, Generation X, Millennial) show varying usage.
Benefits of Online News
- Real-time reporting
- Interaction (comments, shares, likes)
- Accessibility for people with disabilities
- Cost-effective (free access, no article limits)
- Diverse perspectives
- Environmental impact (less paper waste)
- Choice over articles watched/read
Concerns about Online News
- Loss of Investigative Power: journalism funds are needed for investigative reporting; revenue challenges.
- Variation in Quality: free Internet can spread hate speech, rumors, outdated information; can overwhelm quality voices.
Potential Effects on Knowledge and Tolerance
- Major websites can increase knowledge; blogs may be less informative.
- Online diversity can lower tolerance for diversity due to echo chambers and specialized sources catering to preconceived beliefs.
- Watchdog: informs and sounds alarms about government abuses or important issues.
- Agenda Setting: selects issues for public discussion.
- Example: famine in Ethiopia drew attention and increased charitable giving.
- Promotes Public Good: platform for debate and citizen awareness; network news covers national, elections, international news; hosts debates and interviews during crises.
The Federal Communications Commission
- FCC is a U.S. agency regulating telecommunications, including licensing and operation of all radio and television stations.
- Equal Time Rule: requires equal airtime for political candidates if a station has given airtime to one candidate.
- Fairness Doctrine: 1949 policy requiring balanced coverage; now invalid.
- Slander: false statements with intent to harm.
- Libel: printed false information with intent to harm.
- Libel and Slander defamation can damage reputation and income.
- Classified material: limited right to publish classified government material; redaction can be requested.
- 67\% of Americans believe there is political bias in media coverage.
- 44\% believe the bias is liberal; 19\% see it as conservative.
- Some bias is unavoidable; reporters' attitudes affect outcomes.
- Quote: Spiro Agnew on media control.
Bias in Cable News Coverage of Presidential Candidates, 2012
- Tone of coverage (negative vs. positive) varied by network (CNN, MSNBC, FOX) and candidate (Obama vs. Romney).
- Data source: Pew Research Center, Tone of Coverage on Cable News (Aug 27–Oct 21, 2012).