How the News Media Covers Politics

AP GoPo

Bias

• Where can we see media bias in coverage of politics?

• What influence does the media have on public opinion?

Coverage of the President

• Teddy Roosevelt:– 1st president to cultivate a relationship with the

press– 1902 built the West Wing of the White House

• Included a room for reporters

• Franklin Roosevelt:– 1st president to make full use of his press secretary

(position created by Hoover)– Used as an instrument for

cultivating/managing/informing the press

White House Press Secretary

• Today the Press Secretary is an integral part of the presidential team– Who is Obama’s new Press Secretary?• Jay Carney resigned in the fall • Replaced by Josh Earnest

White House Press Corps.

• Group of people who have a lounge in the White House– They wait for a story to break, to attend daily

briefings, and to take advantage of photo-ops• U.S. is the only nation in the world that has

the press & the president in close proximity– Makes governmental actions more personalized

Congressional Coverage

• More likely to get negative coverage than the president or the Supreme Court– Doesn’t have one single spokesperson– Doesn’t arrange its schedule with press in mind

The House

• 435 members of the house• Each have numerous specialized rolestoo

much for tons of press attention• Historically strict about media coverage of its

proceedings– Until 1978 it prohibited TV cameras on floor with

the exception of ceremonial occasions (State of the Union)

The House

• 1952-1970:– Didn’t allow electronic coverage of its committee

hearings• Started to change after 1974’s House Judiciary

Committee discussion of impeaching Nixon

• 1979:– C-SPAN started providing gavel to gavel coverage

of House speeches

The Senate

• Has used TV more than House– Gives them an advantage over Reps for getting

publicity• Senate committee hearings have been

televised since 1950– 1986: started allowing C-SPAN to cover its sessions

The Senate

• Senatorial use of televised committee hearings has helped make the Senate a breeding ground for presidential candidates– Like who??– Have more opportunities to get publicity than

governors• Is that the case in NJ?

Supreme Court

• Least dependent on the press• Doesn’t need public communication to get

political support– Why? Justices are appointed by the president, not

elected by the public• Doesn’t need public support to legitimize

rulings/decisions

Supreme Court

• Needs to appear as if its avoiding manipulation of the press– More complex coverage than the other 2 branches• Ex: 2000 election: no press release of executive

summarymade it difficult to report on the decision

Supreme Court

• Doesn’t allow TV cameras to cover arguments• Controls release of audio tapes• Doesn’t allow reporters at their meetings– Why do they do this?

• John Oliver offers a solution