Consider: What is the most important function performed by
media in the US? Does it do that well?
"Fox News host Megyn Kelly now says she was just kidding when she said Santa Claus
is white. However, she's standing by her statement that the Grinch who stole
Christmas, definitely Jewish." –Conan O'Brien
"It's really starting the look like Hillary Clinton's going to run. The digital team behind
both of President Obama's campaigns is already preparing for a Hillary Clinton run.
They're starting early because they've got to delete 10 years of Bill Clinton's browser
history." –Conan O'Brien
"An entrepreneur has made a device that can prevent the NSA from spying on you by
blocking your laptop's camera. This new high-tech device is called a small piece of
tape." –Conan O'Brien
"Is Santa Clause an American? Well he is fat and wears a velvet track suit." –Stephen
Colbert
"George Zimmerman is auctioning an original painting for $100,000. $100,000? Man,
this guy is getting away with murder." –Stephen Colbert
The Last Word: Assignment 14 for tomorrow
Unit 3: AP Government and Politics
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make
the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because
they control the minds of the masses.”
- Malcolm X

Newspapers mostly free from regulation
 “After the fact” is just about the only time they can be sued or
prosecuted – no prior restraint
▪ Libel and slander are much harder to prove and collect damages for in the
US
 Confidentiality rules for sources
▪ Not total; courts can compel reporters to give up sources, if related to crime

Regulation of radio/TV
 FCC licenses required; stations must serve “community needs”
 Regulation has been decreasing in recent years
▪ Radio has been deregulated the most – Telecommunications Act of 1996
opens up ownership of multiple stations in a single market
 Equal Time, Right of Reply Rule and Political Editorializing rules in
effect.
 Professional norms and integrity
 Code of Ethics
 Avoiding conflicts of interest
 Verifying information
 Dealing with sources
 On/off the record
 On/deep background
 Press release
 Official written document
 Press briefing
 Press secretary represents official
 Q&A on specific topic
 Press conference
 General Q&A with official

Obama – in 5 years, 94 press conferences, or about 20 per year


The purposeful or accidental disclosure of
otherwise secret or nascent information
Why do these occur?
 Separation of powers creates competition and desire to
lessen image of others
 Press and politicians distrust each other – adversarial
press
 “Float” a particular policy or political idea to gauge
reaction of public
 “Whistleblower”

Receives most media coverage
 One person vs. 535 vs. “secret” Court

Prestigious post for a reporter
 White House has stature and historical
importance for reporters

Daily Q&A with press secretary
 Appears much more than President for press
conferences

Logistical Challenge
 535 members – who to focus on

Focus on party leaders
 Maj, min leaders in both houses, committee chairs,
etc.
 Local news does give coverage to local reps/senators

Coverage is often negative
 Scandals and conflict often make headlines
 Weiner-gate, Trey Radel, the list goes on…

Media vacuum
 TV cameras not permitted
 Few reporters cover Court; Complex legal issues harder to
present to public, thus less interesting
 Justices rarely grant interviews

http://fair.org/