Chapter 11.2Chapter 11.2

The Mass MediaThe Mass Media

Types of MediaTypes of Media

The mass media influence politics and The mass media influence politics and gov’t. They also form a link between the gov’t. They also form a link between the people and elected officials.people and elected officials.

Newspapers, magazines, newsletters and Newspapers, magazines, newsletters and books are books are print mediaprint media. Radio, TV and the . Radio, TV and the Internet are Internet are electronic mediaelectronic media..

The media are businesses that operate for The media are businesses that operate for a profit. They run the news they think will a profit. They run the news they think will attract the largest audience.attract the largest audience.

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TV is the most important medium for TV is the most important medium for politics because it reaches the most politics because it reaches the most people. However, print media provide people. However, print media provide deeper coverage.deeper coverage.

Internet users can get information Internet users can get information whenever they wish. They can also get whenever they wish. They can also get more information than brief radio or TV more information than brief radio or TV reports provide.reports provide.

The Media’s Impact on Politics and The Media’s Impact on Politics and GovernmentGovernment

The problems that receive the most time, The problems that receive the most time, money and effort from gov’t leaders make money and effort from gov’t leaders make up the up the public agendapublic agenda. The media have . The media have great influence on which problems gov’ts great influence on which problems gov’ts consider important. They publicize some consider important. They publicize some while other go unnoticed.while other go unnoticed.

The modern media enable people with The modern media enable people with little political experience to run for office.little political experience to run for office.

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Elected officials and the press need one Elected officials and the press need one another, yet they often clash.another, yet they often clash.

Elected officials want the media to show Elected officials want the media to show them as hardworking, effective leaders. them as hardworking, effective leaders. With the help of press secretaries, they With the help of press secretaries, they hold news conferences, give interviews hold news conferences, give interviews and stage media events.and stage media events.

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Officials may secretly pass on, or Officials may secretly pass on, or leakleak, , information to friendly reporters. Leaks information to friendly reporters. Leaks allow them to test public reaction before allow them to test public reaction before deciding whether to publicly move ahead deciding whether to publicly move ahead with a proposal or to quietly drop it. They with a proposal or to quietly drop it. They also use leaks to make competing officials also use leaks to make competing officials look bad, to change public opinion on an look bad, to change public opinion on an issue or to gain favor with a reporter.issue or to gain favor with a reporter.

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Leaks benefit reporters by allowing them Leaks benefit reporters by allowing them to report “inside” information.to report “inside” information.

The mass media play a “watchdog” role. The mass media play a “watchdog” role. By exposing gov’t misconduct, they serve By exposing gov’t misconduct, they serve both their interests and the public interest.both their interests and the public interest.

Recently journalists have begun looking Recently journalists have begun looking for scandal in officials’ private as well as for scandal in officials’ private as well as public lives. Critics say this practice will public lives. Critics say this practice will drive good people out of politics.drive good people out of politics.

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There is tension between the American There is tension between the American citizens’ need for information and the need citizens’ need for information and the need for the gov’t to keep secrets to protect for the gov’t to keep secrets to protect national security. The gov’t can control national security. The gov’t can control information the media report by classifying information the media report by classifying it as secret and limiting coverage of it as secret and limiting coverage of military actions.military actions.

Protecting the MediaProtecting the Media

Democracy requires a free flow of information Democracy requires a free flow of information and ideas.and ideas.

The 1The 1stst Amendment protects freedom of the Amendment protects freedom of the press, which today includes all media.press, which today includes all media.

The Supreme Court has ruled that freedom of The Supreme Court has ruled that freedom of the press includes freedom from the press includes freedom from prior restraintprior restraint, , or gov’t censorship of material before it is or gov’t censorship of material before it is published. Journalists can report what they published. Journalists can report what they want, even if it is unpopular or embarrassing to want, even if it is unpopular or embarrassing to officials.officials.

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Freedom of the press does not allow Freedom of the press does not allow reporters to publish false information that reporters to publish false information that will harm someone’s reputation. This is will harm someone’s reputation. This is libellibel. The Supreme Court ruled that to win . The Supreme Court ruled that to win a libel suit, public officials must prove a libel suit, public officials must prove malice – that the publisher knew the malice – that the publisher knew the material was false or showed reckless material was false or showed reckless disregard for the truth.disregard for the truth.

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The gov’t has the power to decide who The gov’t has the power to decide who gets access to the limited number of gets access to the limited number of airwaves available for radio and TV airwaves available for radio and TV broadcasting. The Federal broadcasting. The Federal Communications Commission cannot Communications Commission cannot censor broadcasts, but it can penalize censor broadcasts, but it can penalize stations that violate its rules.stations that violate its rules.