The Mass Media and Politics
The mass media possesses a great deal of influence in society andpolitics in the United States. Newspapers, radio, magazines and televisionare able to use their own judgment when reporting current events. Thepower of the mass media is an asset to the government in some instances anda stumbling block in others. Recent technology and regulations given tothe mass media have improved the means by which the public can getinformation. The final say in what goes into a story, however, belongs tothe reporter alone. His opinions and biases are often a main part of the The mass media is the means by which the citizens of the United Statesare informed of current events in politics. This gives the media hugeamounts of power and control. Supreme Court Justice Lewis F. Powell statedin 1974, "An informed public depends upon accurate and effective reportingby the news media. No individual can obtain for himself the informationneeded for the intelligent discharge of his political responsibilities."Powell is saying that it is the media's responsibility to inform thecitizens of the news, because people cannot get this information bythemselves, and in order for the people to
The media, although they have a fair amount of leeway, must followsome guidelines when reporting a story. The impression of sameness obscures understanding and limits the range of possible responses for the receiver. Newspaper distribution increased through the 1800's and mid-1900's. He has the final say in what he thinks is importantenough to include in the news. Luckily, in both of these situations, there is more than onereporter covering the details of the story, and most important informationis sure to surface somewhere. Almost 80% of all United States television coverage of governmentofficials focuses on the President. Theequal time doctrine, enforced by the FCC, requires stations to givecandidates running for public office equal air time. The inventionof television and radio allowed those people to see and hear the country'sleaders. The government officials are the men and women who make the laws andgenerally run the country. His opponent, who airson television immediately following, is an older gentleman with a roughvoice and gray hair. " (Cirino 18) By using carefullychosen phrases, the Defense Department made their war efforts seem lessharmful to the people in the United States. Roosevelt was the first president to handle the broadcastmedia well. This policy was designed to discourage presentingonly one side's views of an issue. The FCC dropped the fairness doctrinein 1987, stating that with cable television, there were enoughopportunities to express other views on different channels. Although the FCC cannot censor broadcasts, it can fine stations thatbreak rules and threaten not to renew their broadcasting license.
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