Mass Media

Chapter 12

Periods of Journalistic HistoryThe Party Press

Partisan newspapersSmall circulation/high subscription ratesPolitical/business elites

Periods of Journalistic HistoryThe Popular Press

Mass readership/daily newspapers grow due to mass production

Often use of yellow journalism or sensationalism to increase subscriptions

Success made a press independent of the government feasible

Periods of Journalistic HistoryMagazines of Opinion

Yellow journalism increased so middle class sought alternative news

National magazines“muckraker”: Watchdog function, expose

conduct contrary to public interest

Periods of Journalistic HistoryBroadcast Journalism

Radio 1920s and TV in late 1940sPoliticians could address voters directlyRise of entertainment choices means you

can ignore politiciansPresidents usually coveredIncrease in cable: targeted audiences

Periods of Journalistic HistoryThe Internet

Explosive growthMethods of campaign finance and

facilitation between voters and political activists being revolutionized

National Press

Significance: Get attention from politicians

National reporters and editors are Better paidTend to come from prestigious universitiesHave a more liberal outlook

With the exception of Fox news which caters to conservatives or Republicans

Often do investigative or interpretive stories

National PressThe national press takes on the following roles:

Gatekeeper: influences what subjects become national political issues and for how long (occupy wall street)

Scorekeeper: tracks political reputations and candidacies, media momentum during the presidential primary season is crucial

Watchdog: investigates personalities and exposes scandals

Interpreting Political NewsGoal: to be unbiased

Many people feel that journalists and especially those in national media are liberal leaning

Conservative talk show hosts and Fox news offer a conservative slant to news

Factors influencing stories:Urgent deadlinesDesire to attract an audienceProfessional obligation to be fairNeed to develop sources

Interpreting Political NewsStories can be classified as:

Routine StoriesFeature StoriesInsider stories

Interpreting Political NewsLeaks to the press are becoming more common.

Why?The branches of government are competing with each

other and the press is a weapon in the competitionIt is not illegal to print most government secrets

Interpreting Political NewsSince Vietnam, Watergate, and the Iran-contra affair, the press and politicians don’t trust each other

Attack journalism: seizing upon any bit of info or rumor that might call into question the qualifications or character of a public officialMost people don’t like this kind of newsCompetition for ratings has made media a

big business, reducing public confidence even further

Sensationalism in the MediaIntense competition among many media outlets

means that each has a small share of the audience

Sensationalism draws an audience and is cheaper than investigative reporting

Reporters, meanwhile, may not be checking sources carefully because of pressure to break news stories first

Public trust of news media increased somewhat after attacks of September 11, but now public distrust in accuracy of news media has reached record highs

Government Constraints on Journalism

The First Amendment prevents the Government from censoring the media

How does the government fight back against unwanted “insider” stories?

The number of press secretaries in both the executive and legislative branches has increased dramatically

Press releases are given: often uncontroversial and sterile

Government Constraints on Journalism

Leaks and background stores are awarded to favorite reportersOn the record: reporter can quote official by

nameOff the record: what the official says cannot be

usedOn background: info can be used, but not

attributed to source by nameOn deep background: info can be used, but not

attributed to anybody, including an anonymous source

Presidential rewards and punishments for reporters based on their stories