• THIS MORNING:
• How news presentation affects and is affected by politics
• Example: network evening news
• Film "News: Illusion of Reality"
• Notes:
• The State of the Union speech will be delivered tonight.
• Some extra credit available on the web site.
• Materials for the assignment on representation (see the syllabus) are available on the web site.
• Go to "Do Something!" and click "Does Your Representative Represent You?"
• A good Internet source for impeachment
• PUBLIC OPINION AND THE MEDIA - RECAP:
• Refer to Class 9 notes for the discussion of the "mirror metaphor" and "reality creation."
• Public depends heavily (exclusively) on mass media
• A major source for:
• Enlightened understanding
• Accountability
• Media do not simply mirror reality
• Media can be considered lense through which news is filtered
• The filtering process:
• Selection of stories
• Choices regarding presentation (framing)
• See the notes from Class 9.
• Here are some generalizations.
• Government point of view
• Personalization

• Fragmentation
• Drama
• CBS example (if time and luck permit)
• Introduction is a "table of contents," anchor setting, music

• Politics over substance
• Remoteness
• The coverage of elections
• Horse races and handicapping.

• The consequences:
• Mystification, confusion
• Apathy and disinterest
• Quiescence
• More sterile coverage.

• The media do not misinform so much as not inform citizens; but lack of information becomes a variety of misinformation.

• THE MEDIA AS WATCHDOGS:
• How well do the media help citizens hold leaders accountable?
• To an extent that might surprise the average person politicians are able to "coopt" the media.
• They can get news to carry stories the way they (the politicians) want.
• One consequence is that news isn't news as commonly understood.
• The film "News," narrated by Bill Moyers illustrates many of these points.
• NEXT TIME:
• Voting and elections
• Reading:
• Patterson, We the People, Chapter 10.
• This entire chapter is worth reading carefully, especially since Patterson is a very well respected authority on the media and politics.
• Pay attention to the section on "partisan" and "objective" journalism.
• Also, what roles can the media perform and which can't they do?
• The "reserve" room of the course web page has materials on the media that illustrate and explain some of the topics discussed today.
• See, for example, The Media and Enlightened Understanding

Go to Notes page

Go to American Political System page

Go to H. T. Reynolds page