Chapter Eleven:

The Media and Cyberpolitics

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Learning Objectives

Identify the major functions performed by the mass media in our society, including entertainment, reporting news, identifying public problems, socializing new generations, and providing a political forum.

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Learning Objectives

Trace the historical development of the press from the colonial period to modern electronic media:

A partisan press.Development of mass-readership newspapers.The popular press and yellow journalism.The advent of radio and TV.The appearance of cable TV and the Internet.

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Learning Objectives

Discuss campaign advertising, “spin” and the presidential debates.

Describe the relationship between the First Amendment protection of freedom of the press and government’s regulation of the media.

Explain the media’s impact on politics, both on electoral politics and the investigative reporting of the government.

Explain the ways that “new media” have influenced the functions performed by media.

Evaluate different forms of alleged bias in the media.

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The Media’s Functions

EntertainmentReporting the NewsIdentifying Public ProblemsSocializing a New GenerationProviding a Political ForumMaking Profits

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A History of the Media in the United States

The rise of the political pressDevelopment of mass-readership

newspapersThe popular press and yellow journalismThe age of the electromagnetic signal

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A History of the Media in the United States

The Revolution in Electronic Media

Cable TV—Narrowcasting Talk show politics and Internet broadcasting The Internet, blogging, and podcasting

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The Primacy of Television

Increase in News-Type ProgrammingTV’s Influence on the Political Process

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The Media and Political Campaigns

AdvertisingManagement of News CoveragePresidential DebatesPolitical Campaigns and the Internet

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The Media and the Government

Media and the Presidency:

Setting the Public AgendaInvestigative Reporting

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Government Regulation of the Media

Government regulates the controlling ownership of the media.

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Government Regulation of the Media

Control of Content:

Control of media broadcastingControl of media during 2nd Gulf WarControl of media during war on terrorism

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Bias in the Media

Studies show that many in the media favor the political left.

Media has been accused of racial profiling.

Media is biased in its self-interest: ratings and making money.

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Web Links

Slate: publication offering analysis about politics, news, and culture: www.slate.com.

MediaChannel: provides information and diverse perspectives, and includes links to news media around the world, as well as alternative media: www.mediachannel.org.

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: offers up-to-date research on the public and its use of the media: www.people-press.org.

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What If…The Media Had to Reveal All Their Sources?

Many reporters’ sources are willing to talk on condition that they remain anonymous.

If news sources were not protected:Reporters would lose sources of information.Public officials might become more corrupt.Lawsuits may increase.

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You Can Make a Difference: Being a Critical Consumer of the News

Few Americans take the time to become critical consumers of the news.

To guarantee that your beliefs are truly your own and that they represent your values, you need to obtain accurate information from the media and avoid being swayed by subliminal appeals, loaded terms, or outright bias.

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You Can Make a Difference: Being a Critical Consumer of the News

Sources of news:

Blogs

Consider reading the news rather than watching it on TV.

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You Can Make a Difference: Being a Critical Consumer of the News

For more information on the media:National Association of Broadcasters:

www.nab.org.

Accuracy in Media (conservative group): www.aim.org.

People for the American Way (a liberal group): www.pfaw.org.

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