First things:



I Need a Shower!

If you too are feeling “slimed” after our discussions of lobbies and interest groups, consider this:

“Politicians still get elected on platforms of that call for broad changes in government, and these officials have to explain to voters what they’ve accomplished when they run for re-election. The press investigates cozy deals by lobbyists, the civil service is generally competent and committed to their agencies’ programs, and grassroots public interest groups often can elbow their issues onto the country’s agenda.” (Wasserman p. 229)

The Media

“Molding and Shaping Young Minds to a Focused World View…”

Is it “What are media” or “What is media”…

Media are those means of communication that permit messages to be made public.

Mass Media is able to make the messages VERY public – lots of people, all at once.

What Do Mass Media and Ernest Have in Common?

It shapes our world view, and world view matters!

The 4th What?

Estate?

Clergy, Nobility, Commoners

And the Press?

The 4th Branch of Government?

Maybe

Or maybe that’s the bureaucracy!

Is the media really that important?

Who pays attention?

Why should I care?

Why Should I Care?

Over 100 million people have regular exposure to a daily newspaper. (Of 295)

There are:

800+ TV stations (local affiliates).

9,000 radio stations

11,000 different magazines in publication

65 million households with cable (Of 108)

Why Should I Care?

125 million TV sets

22 hours per week of childhood viewing

MOST houses have both a radio and a television.

Nearly 75% of U.S. households have Internet access at home, according to a Nielsen//NetRatings survey.

The Marketplace of Ideas!

The Framers of the Constitution believed that a free flow of information from many sources was basic to maintaining their systems of government. Ideas would compete with one another without restraint in the “marketplace of ideas”. (Wasserman p. 235)

Thus, the First Amendment says:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Is The Press Doing Their Job?

Inform the public about what its leaders are doing

Act as a watchdog monitoring government actions

The Growth of Mass Media

Once upon a time…

Three channels, plus maybe public television

ABC, NBC, CBS

Nightly News and Local News

60 Minutes and Meet the Press.

C-SPAN started in 1979

CNN started in 1980

MSM vs. Alternative Sources

Main Stream Media

“Liberal Media Elite”

“ I AM equal time.”

“Fair and Balanced”

Those Lovable Late Nighters

Wasserman, p. 244; Pew Center article (on the website)

Just Add Water!

Instant News

The 24 Hour News Cycle:

How will this look on the 6:00 news?

Friday at 5:00 news dump

The internet and the “blogosphere” have added speed and intensity to generate a near constant “crisis mode”

We are losing time for ANALYSIS.

Is More Better?

Is it a Smorgasbord of Knowledge or do we just have Information Overload?

Know the lesson of history:

Consider the Source!

Be an informed media consumer. Then dig in!

The Menu of Messages

News Reports

Entertainment

Advertising

News Reports

Roles of the press:

Gatekeeper

Influences what subjects become national political issues

Score Keeper

Help make political reputations

Especially important in primary races

Watchdog

Close scrutiny

An instinctive desire to expose scandals and investigate personalities

News Reports

Problems With the Press:

Sensationalism:

If it bleeds, it leads; if it burns, it turns heads

Selectivity

What’s News, What Isn’t

Agenda Setting

Surreptitious bias

Everyone has a point of view

I’d rather listen to someone who recognizes that they have a bias. Unfortunately, that’s rare.

Entertainment

Advertisement

Most of the profits in the media industry come from:

Advertising

60% of Presidential campaign funds are spent on advertising

30 Seconds of Superbowl airtime is just over $2 million bucks!

They KNOW it is effective or they wouldn’t pay so much for it. It WORKS!

What About When They Interbreed?

Infotainment

Product Placement

George Magazine

Politics and the Media

Press Secretary



Scott McClellan

Lend Me Your Ears!

The Marketplace of Congress:

435 Members of the House of Representatives

100 Senators

They all want this: Your EARS

Visual Creatures

Wasserman, p. 246

3 Recent Trends to Watch:

Paperless Magazines; Online subscriptions



Embedded Reporters





BLOGs





Good News from the Original Embedded Reporters:

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

Jesus to the Children of Abraham in John 8:32

John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

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