THE MASS MEDIA: THE FOURTH BRACH OF GOVERNMENT
Goals of the Press:
I.) American Press Beginnings
A.) Free Press
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2.)
3.)
B.) Party Newspapers (1780-1860s)
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2.)
3.)
C.) Less Partisan but More Sensationalism
1.) 1884 Campaign
2.) Yellow Journalism3.) Muckraking4.)
II.) Contemporary Media Scene
A.) Shift from Print Media to Electronic MediaB.) Audience is about the same as the number of journalists increase
C.) Less newspapers over-all = more homogenized news and more T.V and cable viewers
D.) Prominent media outlets:
E.) MagazinesF.) Cable News/Talk Shows
G.) Radio
III.) How the Media Covers Politicians and Government
A.) President gets more coverage
B.) CongressC.) Courts1.)
2.)
3.)
D.) Investigative Journalism
1.) initially press had a profound respect for the President and Congress
2.) Investigative Journalism spurned in by Watergate
3.) I.J (due to Vietnam and Civil Rights) drifted towards giving more of a prescriptive account
helping to set society’s agenda by focusing attention on the candidate’s shortcomings as well
as certain social problems
E.) Character as an Issue
F.) Bias?
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2.)
3.) HORSE RACE Journalism:
V.) Media’s Influence on the Public
A.) Media Effects:
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2.)
3.)
B.) Electoral PoliticsC.) Limits:
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2.)
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VI.) How Politician’s Use the Media