AP GOVT AMSCO TEXTBOOK: Chap 20; Topics 5.12-5.13
5. 12 The Media
Media as a Linkage Institution
- 1734 NY writer/publisher Zenger criticized the royal governor (illegal) and went to court and
found not guilty —> creation of free press = an uninhibited institution that places an additional
check on government to maintain honesty, ethics, and transparency (later added in 1st
amendment)
- free press links citcens to their govt
I. The Traditional Press
A. GW & Hamilton created Gazette of the United States to convey Federalist Ideas ->
Jeffersons followers publish National Gazette
B. 1860 opening of the Govt Printing Office (GPO- prints govt documents) broke the
patroange relationship between govt and publishers
C. 1833 NY Sun became 1st sucessful and affordable daily paper
D. —> Telegram —> AP; established news bureaus, or offices beyond a newspapers HQ in
NY and DC.
II. Investigative Reporting
A. (Progressive Era —>) Investigative reporting: reporters dug deep into stories to expose
corruption in government and other institutions.
1. muckrakers
III. National Political News
A. diff head papers for liberal/conservative views
IV. New Communication Technologies
A. Radio: first appeared post WW1
1. concept of a broadcast network—broadcasting from one central location to
several smaller stations called affliates—was in full force by the 1930s
B. TV: the Big Three networks = ABC, CBS, NBC - set the tone for tv journalism
1. Edward Murrow on CBS exposed Senator McCarthys abusive tactics towards
alleged American communists, leadinf to his downfall
2. JFK used power of tv to his campaign advantage
3. 1980 start of CNN - access to national news 24 hours a day
4. Clinton/Lewinsky scandal changed reporting
V. The Internet
A. created by the US Military as a tool to connect its network of computers
VI. Social Media Advances
A. social media interaction between consumers and news outlets has encouraged the
outlets to use social media to their advantage.
Roles and Influence
- the Fourth Estate has established itself as an institution in the United States, protected by the
First Amendment and intertwined with government and politics.
I. Keeping Score
, A. Horse-race journalism = Before an election, reporters update readers and viewers
nonstop on the ups and downs of competing candidates.
1. leads reporters to overly discuss who is leading / falling behind in the campaign
B. this scorekeeper role causes the media to over-emphasize public opinion polls, mainly
because these numbers tend to change day to day, while it tends to ignore or
under-report candidates’ complex proposals or the examining of intricacies of pending
legislation.
1. As scorekeeper, reporters track other political successes and failures beyond
election season. The scorekeeping continues after an election by examining an
elected offcial’s approval rating ect
II. Gate Keeper
A. news media acts as a gatekeeper by setting their own news agenda by determining what
is newsworthy and therefore deciding what information the public will receive.
III. Digging for the Truth
A. the press functions as a watchdog: keeping an eye on govt or industry for corruption,
scandal, or inefficiency
1. strengthed during/post Vietnam War
2. like in the Watergate scandal - journalists helped discover
B. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded to journalists who investigated the flood of opioids in
West Virginia
C. The media skepticism that grew out of these events created adversarial press in the
U.S.—where reporters continually question government officials, their motives, and
their effectiveness.
5. 13 Changing Media
Media and the Three Branches
I. Political Reporting
A. political reporting: standard “just-the-facts” types of stories
B. a love-hate relationship between the government and the press
C. sound bites = short excerpts edited from a longer remark that are especially vivid in
presenting an issue
II. Congress and Press Coverage
A. he House of Representatives voted during the irst Congress to open its doors to the
public and the press.
B. In the late 1970s, the cable industry created C-SPAN—the Cable Satellite Public Afairs
Network—a privately funded, nonprofit public service.
1. began covering the House in 1979. The Senate decided to allow cameras into its
chamber in 1986 (C-SPAN 2). Congress owns and controls the cameras in the two
chambers, but C-SPAN receives the feed and can broadcast House and Senate
floor debates. When Congress is not holding debates the network covers
hearings, seminars at universities, think tanks, meetings, and political rallies.
III. Presidents and Press Coverage
5. 12 The Media
Media as a Linkage Institution
- 1734 NY writer/publisher Zenger criticized the royal governor (illegal) and went to court and
found not guilty —> creation of free press = an uninhibited institution that places an additional
check on government to maintain honesty, ethics, and transparency (later added in 1st
amendment)
- free press links citcens to their govt
I. The Traditional Press
A. GW & Hamilton created Gazette of the United States to convey Federalist Ideas ->
Jeffersons followers publish National Gazette
B. 1860 opening of the Govt Printing Office (GPO- prints govt documents) broke the
patroange relationship between govt and publishers
C. 1833 NY Sun became 1st sucessful and affordable daily paper
D. —> Telegram —> AP; established news bureaus, or offices beyond a newspapers HQ in
NY and DC.
II. Investigative Reporting
A. (Progressive Era —>) Investigative reporting: reporters dug deep into stories to expose
corruption in government and other institutions.
1. muckrakers
III. National Political News
A. diff head papers for liberal/conservative views
IV. New Communication Technologies
A. Radio: first appeared post WW1
1. concept of a broadcast network—broadcasting from one central location to
several smaller stations called affliates—was in full force by the 1930s
B. TV: the Big Three networks = ABC, CBS, NBC - set the tone for tv journalism
1. Edward Murrow on CBS exposed Senator McCarthys abusive tactics towards
alleged American communists, leadinf to his downfall
2. JFK used power of tv to his campaign advantage
3. 1980 start of CNN - access to national news 24 hours a day
4. Clinton/Lewinsky scandal changed reporting
V. The Internet
A. created by the US Military as a tool to connect its network of computers
VI. Social Media Advances
A. social media interaction between consumers and news outlets has encouraged the
outlets to use social media to their advantage.
Roles and Influence
- the Fourth Estate has established itself as an institution in the United States, protected by the
First Amendment and intertwined with government and politics.
I. Keeping Score
, A. Horse-race journalism = Before an election, reporters update readers and viewers
nonstop on the ups and downs of competing candidates.
1. leads reporters to overly discuss who is leading / falling behind in the campaign
B. this scorekeeper role causes the media to over-emphasize public opinion polls, mainly
because these numbers tend to change day to day, while it tends to ignore or
under-report candidates’ complex proposals or the examining of intricacies of pending
legislation.
1. As scorekeeper, reporters track other political successes and failures beyond
election season. The scorekeeping continues after an election by examining an
elected offcial’s approval rating ect
II. Gate Keeper
A. news media acts as a gatekeeper by setting their own news agenda by determining what
is newsworthy and therefore deciding what information the public will receive.
III. Digging for the Truth
A. the press functions as a watchdog: keeping an eye on govt or industry for corruption,
scandal, or inefficiency
1. strengthed during/post Vietnam War
2. like in the Watergate scandal - journalists helped discover
B. The Pulitzer Prize was awarded to journalists who investigated the flood of opioids in
West Virginia
C. The media skepticism that grew out of these events created adversarial press in the
U.S.—where reporters continually question government officials, their motives, and
their effectiveness.
5. 13 Changing Media
Media and the Three Branches
I. Political Reporting
A. political reporting: standard “just-the-facts” types of stories
B. a love-hate relationship between the government and the press
C. sound bites = short excerpts edited from a longer remark that are especially vivid in
presenting an issue
II. Congress and Press Coverage
A. he House of Representatives voted during the irst Congress to open its doors to the
public and the press.
B. In the late 1970s, the cable industry created C-SPAN—the Cable Satellite Public Afairs
Network—a privately funded, nonprofit public service.
1. began covering the House in 1979. The Senate decided to allow cameras into its
chamber in 1986 (C-SPAN 2). Congress owns and controls the cameras in the two
chambers, but C-SPAN receives the feed and can broadcast House and Senate
floor debates. When Congress is not holding debates the network covers
hearings, seminars at universities, think tanks, meetings, and political rallies.
III. Presidents and Press Coverage
