Political Parties, Interest

Groups, and Mass Media

Unit IIIC
Mass Media
 Mass Media
Includes all forms and aspects of
communication to the general public
Considered the fourth branch of
government given the importance and
influence on the electorate, policy-
making, politics, and the government
Mass Media Development
Newspapers

Colonial and Early Republic

Times
Small circulations
Expensive
Financed by politicians and
interest groups
Modern Times
Telegraph and printing
developments increased
circulations on national levels
by late 19th century
Yellow journalism
Limited press due to television
and internet
Mass Media Development
Magazines

Developed in mid-19th
century with smaller
circulation and limited
publishing
Gained influence with
muckraking articles
during Progressive Era
After 1920s, national
circulation
Time, Newsweek, U.S.
News and World Report
Mass Media Development
Radio

Developed in early 20th

century
Primary source of news
and event broadcasts
for early and mid-20th
century
FDR used radio for
fireside chats
Lost influence with
television
Mass Media Development
Television
After WWII, television became
primary source for news and
event broadcasts
Helped glorify journalists
Claims largest mass media
audience
Broadcast of McCarthy hearings,
Nixon-Kennedy debates, and
Vietnam coverage solidified
television in political spectrum
Narrowcasting, cable news, and
24/7 news cycle in late 20th
century
Talking heads
Mass Media Development
Internet
Development in late
20th century and early
21st century
World Wide Web
becoming growing
source of news and
information
Blogs
Subject to immense
bias and limited factual
credibility
 Function of Mass Media
Provide information to the public
Influence and shape public opinion
Link the government and the public
Act as a watchdog of the government
Influence agenda setting
 Role of National Press
Gatekeeper
Influencing or determining which issues receive
attention or degree of attention
Part of agenda setting
Scorekeeper
Tracking candidates or issues showing their
importance or significance over time
Ex. Polls on leading Republican presidential
candidates
Watchdog
Investigating and exposing candidates and
institutions
Ex. Watergate
 Media and the President
The President receives the most attention by
the media
Media Events
Press Secretary
Sources of Information
News/press releases
News briefings
News conferences
Leaks
Media and Congress
Limited coverage in
relation to President
Coverage of
confirmation
hearings, oversight
investigations,
scandals
C-SPAN
 Mass Media Jargon
Media event
Sound byte
Loaded language
On the record
Off the record
On background
On deep background
Trial balloon
Kill a leak
 Regulation of Media
Technical
Licensing, signal strength, digital
conversion
Structural
Organization and ownership of broadcast
media outlets
Content
Limitations on coverage of subjects
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)

Federal
Communications Act
of 1934 established
FCC as independent
regulatory agency
on interstate
communication
Enforces technical,
structural, and
content regulations
 Technical Regulation
Public owns the airwaves
Anything transmitted over the airwaves is
subject to regulation
Radio and television broadcasters must obtain
a license renewable every 5 years
Subject to hearing if a group objects/complains
Digital conversion
Digital Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005
All over-the-air broadcasts must end analog
transmissions and convert to digital
 Structural Regulation
Media Consolidation
Before 1980s, media monopolies were
strictly enforced and prohibited
A corporation could not monopolize an
entire market
Telecommunications Act of 1996
Deregulated limitations on corporations
Led to fewer but larger media
conglomerates
 Content Regulation
Political Campaigns
Fairness Doctrine
Mandated broadcast of opposing views
Dismissed by FCC in 1987
Equal Time Rule
Media time must be equally granted, media costs must
be equal, commercial ads must be the same during
candidate air time
Right of Rebuttal
Candidates have the right to opportunity to respond to
allegations made by an opposing candidate
 Content Regulation
Public Decency
FCC imposes fines and
may revoke licenses in
violation of decency
standards set by law
Obscenity prohibited
Profanity prohibited
between 6AM and 10PM
Only enforced on over-
the-air broadcasts; cable
not subject

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First Amendment
Prior Restraint
Government prohibited from
censoring or refusing
publication/broadcast
Near v. Minnesota (1931)
New York Times v. United States
(1971)
Pentagon Papers
Libel
Malicious printed material is not
protected
Slander
Malicious oral material is not
protected
 Media Bias
Coverage and reporting of issues and
candidates slanted by liberal reporters
and/or conservative media owners
Sensationalism over objectivity
Actual News Headlines vs. Fox News H
eadlines
Media Bias