responsiblity of the media :: essays research papers

The Media  · an agency, means, or instrument to disseminate information  · defines our shared perceptions of the world, society, and politics  · selects what information is directed to us  · media presents views of an issue  · influences on media coverage o producers of the news o sources of the news o audience for the news Power and Responsibility of the Media  · investigate wrong doing  · publicize and explain government action  · evaluate programs and politicians  · bring matters to the public attention that might otherwise by hidden by government  · reconcile campaign promises with government action  · media shapes our perceptions of the government through reporting Media rests upon the First Amendment  · "Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of the press." o instrumental to a free society o if people are given full information of their affairs they will exercise sound judgment (Jefferson)  · American media may openly oppose the government o Near v. Minnesota (1931) extended free press to states  § "complexity of government and opportunity for corruption increases the need for a vigilant press" Organization of the Media  · local orientation o learn about what is around us  · nationalization of the news o same sets of events, presented in a similar way  § wire services supply local newspapers with national and international stories  § cost effective  § every newspaper can not have a media corespondent in Beijing  · network news o national program carried by local affiliates o national newspapers (elite papers influence the influential people)  · national nagazines (Time, Newsweek, US News) o very similar in coverage o middle of the road  · nationalization of media contributed to the nationalization of politics Impact of Private Ownership of Media  · profit motivated o attract large, diverse audiences o programming appeals to certain advertisers o subscribers are consumers of advertising Preferences of Mass Media  · entertainment  · personalized stories about familiar people  · short, simple stories Distates of Public  · political stories  · repetition Media Regulation  · broadcast media is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) o electromagnetic spectrum is publicly owned and it should benefit all  · equal time rule o broadcasters must provide candidates for the same office an equal opportunity to buy commercial time  · right of rebuttal - individuals must be given time to respond to personal attacks o Red Lion Broadcasting Company v. FCC  § upheld right of rebuttal  § allowed a liberal author an opportunity to respond to an attack by a conservative  § "the views expressed in the program are not necessarily those of the producers of the program"  · fairness doctrine o broadcasters were required to air programs with opposing views o made obsolete in 1985 by FCC o diversity of media presented different views