Chapter 8:3 The Media

Transcription

1 Chapter 8:3 The Media

2 Rev_13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

3 Chapter 8:3 The Media o We will examine the role of the mass media in providing the public with political information. o We will explain how the mass media influence politics o We will understand the factors that limit the influence of the media

4 The Role of Mass Media: o The medium is a means of communication, it transmits some kind of information. o Media is a plural form of medium. o The mass media include those means of communication that can reach large, widely dispersed audiences simultaneously.

5 The Role of Mass Media: o Importantly, the mass media do not function as the arm of the government but is privately owned. o Their prime goal is not that of influencing the course of public affairs.

6 The Role of Mass Media: o Along with entertainment, the media provides political information. o They do so directly when they report the news, in a television newscast or in the news columns of a newspaper.

7 The Role of Mass Media: o The media also provides a large amount of political information less directly-for example, in radio and television programs magazine articles and blogs. o Most people acquire most of what they know about government and politics from the various forms of media.

8 Television o Is all-pervasive. o There is one television in at least 98 percent of the nation s 115 million households.

9 Television o The major television networks dominated television from its infancy. o The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS), o American Broadcasting Company (ABC) o National Broadcasting Company (NBC). o These are the major networks with the most programming but has suffered decline because of the internet and cable television.

10 Television o These are the major networks with the most programming but has suffered decline because of: o (1) 24/7 programming of Cable broadcasters like CNN and Fox Network. o (2) The internet o (3) Public Broadcasting System (PBS) and 350 local television stations.

11 Newspapers: o Newspapers are an important source of information about government and politics. o Most papers cover stories in greater depth than television and try to present many points of view in their editorial sections. o Reputable papers include The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.

12 Radio: o Radio was once a dominant source of media. o In politics, talk radio has become an important source of political commentary. o The opinions and analyses offered by a number of talk show hosts can be found on hundreds of stations across the U.S. o Among the most prominent talk broadcasters today are conservatives Rush Limbaugh and Bill O Reilly and liberals, Thom Hartmann, and Rachel Maddow.

13 Magazine: o Magazines help spread news on politics such as Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Reports.

14 The Internet: o With the vast information that the internet provides, it has become a major source for political news. o The internet has spawned the growth of weblogs blogs Web site postings usually devoted to some specific subject. o Most are written by single author and some have several contributors. o They are devoted to public affairs typically feature links to a variety of sources. o Pod-casts, digital recordings that are posted and can be downloaded from the internet, they also grown spectacularly over recent years.

15 Media and Politics: o The Media influence in politics include: o (1) Public Agenda o (2) The field of electoral politics

16 Media and Politics: o The Media play a very large role in shaping the public agenda, the societal problems that the nation s political leaders and the general public agree need government attention. o As they report and comment on events, issues, policies, and personalities. o The media determines to a very large extent what public matters the public will think and talk about and, so those matters about which public-policy makers will be most concerned.

17 Media and Politics: o Media has the potential to tell the people what to think about. o People rely on the media for most of the information they receive on public issues. o The mass media also have a direct impact on the nation s leaders. o Stephen Hess, a widely respected authority on the media, identified several news organizations that form the inner ring of influence in Washington D.C.

18 Media and Politics: o They are CBS, ABC, NBC, The New York Times, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal. o The Associated Press (AP), Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News and World Report. CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, Reuters, and USA Today. o Top political figures in and out of government pay close and continuing attention to these sources.

19 Election Politics: o Television has made candidates far less dependent on party organizations than they once were. o Television and the internet allow candidates to appeal directly to the people without the help of a party organization. o Candidates for office need not be experienced politicians.

20 Election Politics: o Voters see a candidate, the impressions they have of that candidate s personality, character, abilities, and so on is one of the major influence on voting behavior. o The image a candidate projects in the media can have a telling effect on the outcome of the election.

21 Election Politics: o Candidates regularly try to manipulate media coverage to their advantage. o Campaign strategists understand that, even with the internet, most people learn almost everything they know about a candidate from television. o They therefore plan campaigns that emphasize television exposure. o Such technical consideration is timing, location, camera angles at the expense of the issues and qualifications of the candidates.

22 Election Politics: o Good campaign managers also know that most television programs are built out of the stories that o 1) Take no more than a minute or two of airtime o (2) Show people doing something interesting or exciting. o Newscasts seldom feature talking heads speakers who go on and on about some complex issue.

23 Election Politics: o Instead, newscasts featuring candidates are usually short, sharply focused sound bites-snappy reports that can been aired in 30 or 45 seconds or so. o Staged and carefully orchestrated.

24 Limits on Media Influence: o Few people follow international, national, or even local political events very closely. o People who do pay some attention to politics are likely to be selective. o People desire to be more entertained than informed. o Those who want to utilize media to gain information would need to take effort via both print and electronic media.

25

26 o How do you think the media might bias people in their coverage? o How do you think the media could influence in voting for a certain candidate for office? o Compare the political coverage of Fox News and CNN by going to YOUTUBE and see how they are different in covering the president. Describe what is different in their coverage.