Transcript Media_FALL_2012 - Mommas-Lil-Girl

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Media and Politics
• As we have already discussed, the media plays
an important role in American politics:
– Impacts Public Opinion
– Part of the Socialization Process
– Can impact election outcomes
• We have also already discussed how the
influence of the media is somewhat limited
– The media is most likely to influence the political
attitudes of non-voters.
– Most American self-select their media source
based on existing ideology.
Historical Relationship Between Press and
Politics
• In early US society the newspaper was the
only form of “Mass Media” available.
– First newspaper in the colonies was the BostonNews Letter (1704)
– There was an explosion of newspapers after this,
as by 1,800 there were more than 180 papers.
• Early papers were aimed primarily at elites in
society, had limited audiences, and had no
professional reporters.
• Early papers were inherently partisan and were
basically propaganda machines.
– Gazette of the US was started by Hamilton to
support Federalist policies-funded by Treasury
Department Business.
– Jefferson reacted with his own National Gazette, and
put editor on the State Dept. payroll.
• Technological advancements and demographic
shifts opened up door for the Penny Press
(1830’s).
– Cheaper and aimed at wider audience.
– Relied on advertising and not govt. subsidies.
– Used reporters and were more independent from
parties.
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Contemporary Trends
• Although mass-media is diverse, Television is clearly
dominant source of information.
– 90% of American household have a TV, average household
has 4.
• Viewing options have become more diverse
– In 1960 90% of household were limited to ABC, CBS, and NBC
for viewing.
– By 2007 51% had cable television, 28% had satellite dish, and
4% had both.
• Talk Radio has also exploded: Approx. 75 stations
dedicated to this venue in 1980, over 1,400 by 2004.
• Both trends have killed newspapers.
Impact of “New Media”
• Cable TV, Internet, Email etc. fall into this
category.
• Have these new outlets led to a better
informed public, or a small segment of the
highly informed, but general population who
is less knowledgeable than ever?
• One positive trend is that these new outlets
have decentralized ownership and control of
information.
Media Effects
• Agenda Setting- When media affects the
issues people think about, even if it does not
change how we think about them.
– “CNN Effect”
• Priming- When media affects the standards
people use to evaluate political figures or
severity of a problem.
• Framing- When opinions about an issue are
altered by emphasizing or de-emphasizing
particular facets of the issue.
• Overall impact of media is somewhat limited,
as impact is greatest on the uninformed.
Media Bias?
• There are several sources of potential media
bias.
• Selection Bias- The media can define what is
“News”
– The Selection principle of what is reported on by
the media is biased toward negativity and unusual
and/or interesting.
• Professional Bias- a lack of expertise in any
particular area and competitive pressure for
ratings leads to “Pack Journalism”.
Media Bias?
• Ideological Bias- Both Conservatives and
Liberals claim the media has an ideological
bias.
– Surveys of journalists and editors indicate that
those reporting on the news are more likely to be
liberal and vote more Democratically than general
population.
– The nature of media conglomerates lead many to
argue that the media is pro-business and status
quo.
– Talk radio is dominated by conservative voices.