The Mass MediaThe Mass Media

A.P. Government/PoliticsA.P. Government/Politics

LectureLecture

Objective:Objective:

What role does the mass media What role does the mass media play in our understanding of play in our understanding of

politics and events?politics and events?

What is the mass media?What is the mass media?

DefinitionDefinition1. mass media refers to “means of 1. mass media refers to “means of communication that are technologically capable communication that are technologically capable of reaching most people and are economically of reaching most people and are economically affordable to most.”affordable to most.”2. these are generally considered newspapers 2. these are generally considered newspapers and television and television 3. more specialized media such as weekly news 3. more specialized media such as weekly news magazines or talk radio usually augment magazines or talk radio usually augment newspapers and televisionnewspapers and television

Media FunctionsMedia Functions a. through general reporting the press is the a. through general reporting the press is the

main conduit of information between the main conduit of information between the governed and the governmentgoverned and the government

b. through editorials and opinion writing, the b. through editorials and opinion writing, the media provide criticisms and contrasting views media provide criticisms and contrasting views of politicians and policyof politicians and policy

c. through investigative reporting the media c. through investigative reporting the media serve the primary watchdogs that help to insure serve the primary watchdogs that help to insure accountability and a system free from abuseaccountability and a system free from abuse

d. in sum, the media are the primary means by d. in sum, the media are the primary means by which citizens gain the requisite information which citizens gain the requisite information needed to effectively participate in a democracyneeded to effectively participate in a democracy

What should our media be?What should our media be?

In short, in a democracy the expectation is In short, in a democracy the expectation is that the media is an that the media is an independent, objective, and vigilant independent, objective, and vigilant institution institution

Media RealityMedia Reality In reality, however, the media often does not fulfill these In reality, however, the media often does not fulfill these

expectationsexpectations throughout much of our history, various newspapers were either owned throughout much of our history, various newspapers were either owned

or at least highly supportive of local politicians and machinesor at least highly supportive of local politicians and machines just as politicians need the press, so does the press need the politicians just as politicians need the press, so does the press need the politicians

to serve as sources, offer quotes creating a symbiotic relationshipto serve as sources, offer quotes creating a symbiotic relationship With more specialized media outlets, individuals can now simply With more specialized media outlets, individuals can now simply

access information that reinforces instead of challenges existing access information that reinforces instead of challenges existing beliefsbeliefs

It is unclear how useful the information that the media provides in It is unclear how useful the information that the media provides in terms of informing the citizenryterms of informing the citizenry

focus on the trivial, scandals, and the horserace instead of providing focus on the trivial, scandals, and the horserace instead of providing more substantive coverage more substantive coverage

profit oriented instead of concerned about being a force in democracyprofit oriented instead of concerned about being a force in democracy

Contemporary Media CultureContemporary Media Culture

In theory, the government is expected to regulate the In theory, the government is expected to regulate the public airwaves in the public interest in hopes of public airwaves in the public interest in hopes of encouraging balanced and fair dialogueencouraging balanced and fair dialogue

restricting ownership to limit media monopoliesrestricting ownership to limit media monopolies use of equal time and fairness doctrines to insure all view points use of equal time and fairness doctrines to insure all view points

are presented to the publicare presented to the public Justice Hugo Black, in a landmark media-ownership Justice Hugo Black, in a landmark media-ownership

case in 1945, wrote: "The First Amendment rests on the case in 1945, wrote: "The First Amendment rests on the assumption that the widest possible dissemination of assumption that the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources is information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the welfare of the public." essential to the welfare of the public."

Government and the Media TodayGovernment and the Media Today

More recently, however, the government has moved More recently, however, the government has moved away from media regulator to media advocateaway from media regulator to media advocate

the government simply gives away the public airwaves to the government simply gives away the public airwaves to commercial broadcasters with minimal licensing requirementscommercial broadcasters with minimal licensing requirements

loosening ownership regulations to such a significant degree that loosening ownership regulations to such a significant degree that independent media ownership has all but vanished independent media ownership has all but vanished

in 1987 the Reagan administration eliminated the equal time in 1987 the Reagan administration eliminated the equal time doctrine which obligated any news organization that presents doctrine which obligated any news organization that presents political opinions to allow all sides to have an equal saypolitical opinions to allow all sides to have an equal say

The end result of this shift from regulator to enabler is The end result of this shift from regulator to enabler is profoundprofound

today we have more outlets but less diversity because the six today we have more outlets but less diversity because the six largest media companies in the world now own of 80% of all largest media companies in the world now own of 80% of all media content and outletsmedia content and outlets