Chapter 12: The Media

Objectives:

1. Trace the evolution in America, explaining how media coverage of politics has changed over time.

   1. The evolution of the media's coverage of politics in the United States has been shaped by the changes in society and technology over time. In the early days, politicians of various factions and parties created and sponsored newspapers to further their agenda. However, with the development of the rotary press, telegraph, and the Associated Press, mass-readership daily newspapers became a reality, and overt partisanship in journalism began to fade away. Radio was a major change in the media landscape, as it allowed politicians to speak directly to audiences without their remarks being filtered through editors and reporters. This ushered in a new era of coverage, one in which journalists sought to maintain objectivity and neutrality in their reporting. In the modern era, the internet has become the ultimate free market in political news, as it is difficult to regulate or control. Politicians recognize the importance of social media as a way to reach out to voters, and so they work to carefully craft their presence online. This has led to an even greater emphasis on public relations and media management in politics, as politicians must manage how they are perceived in the media in order to remain competitive.

2. Summarize the most important sources of news for contemporary Americans, and discuss the consequences of consuming different news sources.

   1. Contemporary Americans are increasingly turning to the internet as their primary source of news. Television news is still the most dominant source of information for most Americans, but the numbers have been falling since 1990. Television is more popular among older generations, but the internet is more popular among the younger generations. Newspapers are becoming less and less important sources of information. The increased availability of news sources has led to the stratification of the electorate. It is now easier for people who want more political information to receive it, as well as easier for those who don’t want to know about politics to ignore it. Many people engage in selective exposure to news, choosing to access information that confirms their existing beliefs. However, most Americans tend to get most of their news from centrist, mainstream sources. The consequences of consuming different news sources are that it can lead to confirmation bias, as people are more likely to access information that confirms their existing beliefs. This can lead to people becoming more entrenched in their views and less open to alternative perspectives.

3. Explain the main political functions of the media in America, and discuss how the media both enhance and detract from American democracy.

   1. The media plays a major role in American democracy by setting the agenda, influencing how issues are framed and discussed, acting as a watchdog to guard against fraud and abuse, and holding politicians accountable for their campaign promises. The media also helps ensure that politicians respond to public opinion. However, there are some drawbacks to the media's role in democracy. Horse-race journalism, which focuses on the competition between candidates rather than the substance of their policies, is often favored by the media. Additionally, the media often has a tendency to focus on the negative aspects of news stories and sensationalized stories for entertainment value, which can detract from the real issues at hand.  All in all, the media has both positive and negative effects on American democracy, and it is important to recognize both.

4. Discuss the reasons behind lower levels of media trust today, and summarize the arguments for and against media bias.

   1. Media trust has been on the decline for several years now. There are a few reasons behind this decrease in trust. Firstly, many Americans perceive the media to be biased, mainly in favor of liberals. It is also argued that the media has a tendency to sensationalize news stories, leading to further confusion and mistrust. Despite the perception of bias among some, most studies show that the media is not biased in favor of one party or another. This lack of clear bias in media coverage stems from not only journalistic norms of balance and objectivity, but also from economics. Media outlets need to retain a wide audience in order to be successful, and so they need to present the news in a way that is non-partisan and non-biased.

5. Explain how the government controls and regulates the media.

   1. In the United States, newspapers and magazines need no license to be public, with the exception of very narrowly defined circumstances. This was outlined in the famous New York Times vs. United States case, which established that prior restraints on press can be placed only if there is a lot of evidence for it. After a newspaper or magazine is published, it may be sued or prosecuted if the material is libelous or obscene, however, the courts have defined libelous and obscene narrowly, making it difficult to prove. The Supreme Court has also upheld the right of the government to compel reporters to give information as part of a criminal investigation if it bears on the commission of a crime. When it comes to broadcasting, it is regulated by the government. This means that radio and television stations need a license from the Federal Communications Commission. This license can be revoked or suspended if the broadcaster uses the station in ways that are deemed harmful or contrary to the public good. The FCC also has the power to regulate the content of broadcast radio and television, such as limits on profanity, violence, and other forms of indecency.

The Media and Politics:

• Politicians of various factions and parties created, sponsored, and controlled newspapers to further their interests.
• Changes in society and technology made possible the rise of a self-supporting, mass-readership daily newspaper.
  • Ex: rotary press, telegraph, Associated Press.
• During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, overt partisanship in journalism faded away as journalists sought to be objective and neutral in their coverage of politics.
• Radio represented a major change in the way news was gathered and disseminated, as it allowed public officials to speak directly to audiences without their remarks being filtered through editors and reporters.
• The internet is the ultimate free market in political news: no one can ban, control, or regulate it.
• Since politicians recognize social media is an important way to reach out to voters, they now work to carefully craft their social media presence.

Where do Americans Get Their News? Does This Matter?:

• Television is the most dominant source of news for most Americans
  • Numbers are falling starting from 1990 due to the internet.
  • Television as a new source is more popular among older people, but among younger people it’s the internet.
• Newspapers are less important sources of information.
• TV and the internet has stratified the electorate.
  • It is easier for people who want more political information to receive it
  • It’s also easier for people who don’t want to know about politics to ignore it.
• Many engage in selective exposure, but most Americans tend to get most of their news from centrist, mainstream sources.

Media Effects:

• Media helps set the agenda.
  • The media can choose which stories to cover.
• Media can influence which issues the public uses to assess its political leaders
  • This is an extension of agenda setting. When the media covers an issue, viewers assume it’s important.
• Media can frame stories in particular ways, which influences people's understanding and attitudes about an issue.
• Media can serve as a watchdog to guard against fraud and abuse
  • Can hold politicians accountable for their campaign promises.
  • Also helps ensure that politicians respond to public opinion.
• Sometimes the media can “game frame” political reporting and focus on horse-race journalism.
  • Journalists devote time to this because viewers enjoy this, and most readers find substantive reporting dull.
• Media tends to focus on the negative in stories.
  • Fits within the media’s role as a “watchdog.”
  • Sensationalistic stories are overreported in the media.

Is the Media Trustworthy and Unbiased?:

• Overtime Americans have been less confident in the press
• Most Americans think the media is biased, mainly toward liberals.
  • However studies show media coverage is not biased in favor of one party or another
• Lack of clear bias in media stems from not just journalistic norms of balance and objectivity, but also from economics
  • If media outlets are too biased they will lose audience share.

Government Regulation of the Media:

• Newspapers and magazines need no license to be public. No prior restraints on press can be placed except under very narrowly defined circumstances.
  • This was outlined in the case New York Times vs. United States.
  • Once published, newspapers and magazines may be sued or prosecuted if the material is libelous or obscene.
  • Not a very serious restriction because the courts have defined libelous and obscene narrowly.
• Supreme Court has upheld the right of the government to compel reporters to divulge information as part of a properly conducted criminal investigation, if it bears on the commission of a crime.
• Broadcasting is regulated by the government. Radio and televisions need a license from the Federal Communications Commission.

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