3. History of the Mass Media:
Print Media
First newspaper: Boston
News-Letter, April 1704
• During Revolutionary
War, newspapers abandon
impartiality and work to
build resistance to British
policies
• The party press
1833 advent of the penny
press
Yellow journalism
Centralization of
ownership of newspapers
in early 20th century has
continued to this day
4. History of the Mass Media:
Radio
• Radio Act of 1927
− Established the airwaves as
a public good, subject to
governmental oversight
• The Federal
Communications
Commission
− created in 1934
5. History of the Mass Media: Television
Unlike newspapers and
radio stations, high
costs dictated that
almost from the
beginning TV stations
were affiliated with
networks, thus
centralizing ownership
9. Functions of the Media:
Entertainment
Entertainment is the primary function of the media
10. Functions of the Media: Entertainment
• The distinction between
entertainment and the news
has become increasingly
blurred
• Murphy Brown and Vice-
President Dan Qualye
11. Functions of the Media: News
The media
keeps the public
informed as to
the actions and
policies of
government
agencies and
officials
12. The Role of Profits
Libertarian View
The media should show
what they think the
public wants, with no
concern for the
consequences
Social Responsibility
Theory
The media needs to
balance what the public
wants with what’s good
for it
Who should control the media?
Two views
13. Social Effects of the Media
Three important societal functions of
the media
Surveillance
Interpretation
Socialization
14. Functions of the Media: Surveillance
The media has a
watchdog role as the
“eyes and ears of the
world”
15. Functions of the Media: Interpretation
The power to set the context, to frame the issue, to interpret the
facts, and potentially to provide legitimacy for people, issues, or
groups are powerful and controversial functions of the media
16. Functions of the Media: Socialization
The media is an agent of
socialization, teaching us
political facts and
opinions that help form
our political belief-
structures and our
political culture
18. Controlling the News
Officials want to control
information about
themselves and their
policies, including the
way such information is
framed and presented by
the media
19. Controlling the News
One very popular tactic of politicians trying to get free
press is to stage “pseudo-events”
20. Power of the Media
Gatekeeping
Deciding what stories will be
on the public’s agenda and
which will be sidelined.
Agenda Setting
Deciding what will be decided,
defining the problems and
issues to be addressed by
decision makers
21. Covering the President
Three general forms of communication
from the White House:
§ Press Releases
§ News Briefings
§ News Conferences
22. Media Covering Congress
and the Courts
The Media gives far less
attention to Congress than
the president
Of all three branches of
government, the courts
tend to get the least
amount of coverage
24. Media in Campaigns
How does the media affect campaigns?
• Determining “front-running candidates”
• Charging for advertising
• Televising debates
• Portraying charismatic politicians as more “electable”
26. National Security Concerns
Sometimes the interest of the press and
government are in conflict.
The press desires to print all newsworthy
stories, and the government desires to
preserve security.
− New York Times v. US (1971)
27. National Security Concerns
Davis, Darren W., and Brian D. Silver. 2004. “Civil Liberties vs. Security: Public Opinion in the
Context of the Terrorist Attacks on America.” American Journal of Political Science, Vol. 48, No. 1.
(Jan., 2004), pp. 28-46.
28. Censorship of the Media
Broadcast media has fewer protections than
print media, and can be fined by the FCC for
violating certain standards
From www.msnbc.msn.com (left) and www.radiomacho.com (right)
29. Media and the Right to Privacy
Sometimes news coverage has the potential
to infringe upon individual privacy rights
− Rape victims
Cox Broadcasting Corporation v. Cohn (1975)
− Trials
− Public figures and private individuals
New York Times v. Sullivan (1964)
