responsiblity of the media :: essays research papers

The Media      an agency, means, or instrument to disseminate information      defines our sh atomic number 18d 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       gauge 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 and 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 good deal are given full information of their affairs they will exercise sound judgment (Jefferson)      American media may openly oppose the government o      close-fitting 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 druthers o     learn about what is around us      nationalization of the news o     same sets of events, presented in a similar way      wire run supply local newspapers with national and international stories   &nbs p  cost effective      every newspaper can not have a media corespondent in capital of Red China      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 cadence rule o     broadcasters must provide candidates for the same office an equal opportunity to buy commercial time      right of rebutter - 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 inevitably those of the producers of the program"   &nb sp  fairness doctrine o     broadcasters were required to air programs with opposing views o     made obsolete in 1985 by FCC o     diversity of media presented incompatible views