أريد بحث في اللغة الانجليزية [الأرشيف] - منتديات الجلفة لكل الجزائريين و العرب

صبرينة 2023

2011-01-31, 19:39

The relationship between media and government

Americans knew early on that in order to make good
voting decisions they had to be aware of what was going
on in the government. The media information had to be
readily available and distributed. America answered
with newspapers. The first daily newspaper was in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1783. The newspaper
phenomenon quickly spread to all major cities.

In 1924, the media extended to radio. The parties began
paying for radio advertisements, and the party
conventions were broadcast live.

George Gallup conducted public opinion polls in 1934
with small samples of people in key districts. Polling,
while more sophisticated today, is generally regarded
as an accurate assessment of public opinion.

By 1940 media extended to the television (which quickly
spread to where we are today!).

Newspapers and magazines
The earliest newspapers were The Federalist Papers,
which were penned by many political supporters of
Constitution ratification. During Washington’s
administration there were two opposing newspapers:

Gazette of the United States

Represented the Federalists (Alexander Hamilton)
National Gazette

Represented Thomas Jefferson and the Democratic
Republicans
Competition for readers (and selling advertisements)
became intense so the media started leaning toward more
sensational news (yellow journalism). The father of
yellow journalism is William Randolph Hearst. Hearst
wrote for the New York Journal. The impact of Today’s
yellow journalism is the tabloid papers at the
supermarket. Wow, what a legacy…

In-depth issues in magazines gained popularity in
middle class audiences. This is where the muckrackers
(writers who exposed a political corruption) were heard
and induced political change through public attention.

Radio and television
From the 1920’s through World War II radio was a
popular media avenue. President Franklin Roosevelt
conducted the famous “fireside chats” (1933-1944) to
talk to the American people in a more candid way about
the state of our nation. Today some American’s listen
to National Public Radio (NPR) to acquire political
knowledge.

Television has given the American’s insight into the
political process by broadcasting; national
conventions, State of the Union speeches, debates,
political TV ads, and Congressional hearings and votes.

The Structure of the Mass Media and Government
Regulation
Mostly the mass media is privately owned (except for
the public radio and television stations). Because the
mass media is privately owned they exercise free speech
freely and have very little oversight.

Concentration in the mass media
Newspapers have merged due to costs. The three major
networks (ABC, NBC, CBS) don’t own their affiliate
stations to encourage diversity of opinion. New
networks are on the scene (FOX, CNN), which has
increased the competition in television. The mass media
is largely protected under the First Amendment, not
without attempt of government suppression though. In
1971, the Nixon Administration tried to stop the New
York Times and Washington Post from publishing the
Pentagon Papers (classified documents about Vietnam).
The press cannot print stories they know are false, or
that violate obscenity laws.

Hard news versus entertainment
News works like every other television program. The
more people that watch, the higher premium for the
advertisement. Therefore, critics think that there is a
lot more “fluff” to capture an audience than ought to
be. The lines are blurring between entertainment and
hard news.

Many young viewers are getting their political
information from shows that are more political satires
such as:

Saturday Night live,
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and
The Colbert Report.
Regulation of radio and television

Radio has to be regulated so the broadcast stations
don’t prevent each other from airing. The Federal Radio
Act of 1927 set up licensing for frequencies. Today the
Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulates radio
and television in several ways:

Limits the number of stations a company can own.
Reviews licensing.
All radio and television stations are required to give
all candidates for political office equal time on the
air (equal time rule).
Broadcasts must present conflicting points of view
(fairness doctrine), later overturned in 1987 with
Reagan’s support because: Violation of freedom of press
and the industry's competition already ensured
conflicting views.
Fines are levied on broadcasters for profanity and
obscenity.
The Functions of the Mass Media
The mass media is very powerful over public opinion.
Most people do access some sort of media medium to
derive facts on politics. These facts can be skewed, or
important pieces omitted thanks to the freedom of the
press. The media can:

Sway public opinion

Conducts their own polls
Provide in-depth analysis of issues
Help determine political agenda

By deciding the extent and how they broadcast the media
in essences guides the agenda by guiding the public
Acts as liaison between government and people
Air time is typically given to a politician and another
with an opposing view point to give people a well
rounded perspective on the nations policies and ideals
Operates as a watchdog over the government

The media loves to broadcast a good story that
involves: Corruption, abuse of power, and ineffective
programs.
How reporters get the news

Journalists get much of their political news straight
from the elected officials. The people that work for
the administration try to spin information in the best
possible light for their bosses. Journalists get daily
press releases and briefings from the White House press
secretary. Journalists have the ability to question the
administration and even the president directly. Don’t
be fooled into thinking that the president “shoots from
the hip” when answering questions. There is typically
hours of preparation and rehearsal of answers.

Because their relationship is mutually benefiting there
are some rules that everyone follows:

To speak on background means the source cannot be
identified.
To speak off the record means the information cannot be
used.
Leaks are (sometimes) unintentional releases of
information to the press corps.
The media and presidential elections
The media plays an important role in the presidential
election process. The candidates know just how
influential the media is and administers several
tactics to come out ahead, candidates:

Hire pollsters,
Employ media consultants,
Spend most of their political funds in television ads.
There are three types of advertisements that the
campaigns run in the media:

Positive ad

Advertising that stresses the candidate’s
qualifications, positions, and does not mention an
opponent.
Negative ad

Advertising that attacks the opposing candidates
position or character.
Contrast ad

Advertising that compares the records and platforms of
the candidates (with a bias toward a candidate)
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