Chapter 15: the Media
The Early Media
Pamphlets and broadsheets
Word of mouth
The Party Press
1830’s – the Penny Papers
1880’s – Yellow Journalism
1900’s – Muckrackers
1930’s – professional, non-partisan media
Sources of Media Today
Print Media
Local Newspapers
National Newspapers, wire services
Radio and Commercial Television
Television Networks, affiliates
Talk Radio
News Channels
Internet
Source of “alternate” news
Source of “reinforcing” news
Government Officials and the Press
Press Release
Press Briefing
Press Conference
On Background (un-named)
Deep Background (un-sources)
Off the Record – on the record
Issues of Confidentiality
Why Negative Press Coverage?
The presidency
Negative tone of coverage
Formal Press Conferences
Congress
Role of party leadership
Committee and oversight hearings
The role of access
What to investigate?
Issues, or character?
Investigative Reporting – the “big” issues
Facts, or editorializing?
The issue of Libel and public defamation
Media Bias
Is the Media biased?
Factual reporting vs. Editorials
The make-up of the media
Social background and corporate interests
Conspiracy vs. Consensus
How Media Bias works
Gatekeeping – what is newsworthy
Placement
Labeling
Outright Falsification (very rare – see pg 570)
The role of experts
What effects?
Reactions from consumers, rise of alternative media
Differing political environments
Media fragmentation
Regulation of the media
Historic regulations
Content Regulation, equal time rule
‘fairness doctrine”