10-2-2008 Notes

The government regulated three apects.
- The 1934 communications act created Federal communications commissions and forms basis media regulation for more than 60 years.
A) Technical regulation limited number of frequencies available.
-Stepped on one another's signals.
-Sought regulation, gave freedom in order to impose order use of
airwaves.
- No one may oppose radio/tv station without license.
- FCC Regulated ownership of electronic media.
1) Broadcasters limited number of tv and radio stations owned nationally.
-Regulations restrict number stations a single entity in a given community.
-Regulation essentially lifted Telecommunications Act of 1996 no limits on Tv Stations companies may own so long as companies does not beyond extend 35 percent of the market nationwide.

21st century Flurry mega mergers!
- AOL time warner merge internet with provider a huge cable network.

-FCC regulate broadcast content (Applied Broadcasters not newspapers because Broad use public airways and license FCC.) The 1934 Communications Act:
1) Equal opportunity rule provides station must make available amount of time under
same conditions to all candidates.
2) Reasonable access rule regulates stations to make facilities available in
expression of conflicting views on issues by all responsible elements in the
community.
The US courts appeals struck down both in reasonable access rule in 2000.
Business pressured congress to remove restrictions and said that it was unnecessary because of the first amendment.

Despite content regulation there are still regulations.
-The Equal time rule requires station to make time for all parties.
- The Right to reply says that any person attacked on broadcast are allowed to reply over the same stations.
- The Fairness Doctrine abolished in 1987 required broadcasters to give time to opposing views if the broadcast a program giving one side of a controversial issue. This rule is mostly voluntary.

Media makes the news by deciding what to report. The major news media maintains journalist in many cities and government centers to report politics first hand.
-Washington D.C. has the largest press cities if any city in the world and the While house rely heavily on information received in the press room. Reporters can expect rules associated with news, given "on background" which can be used but the source cannot and "Off the Record" which can't be printed.

Stories are also put through by leaks, reporters gain access information which is not leaked to everyone and Trial balloons, float idea that don't interfere with political plans.

White house reporters information and photo opportunities need fewer reporters than congress and congress don't maintain as tight a control over news stories as the white house does.

Gspan style="font-weight:bold;">Gatekeepers are presenting news and deciding which events to report and how to handle their elements.

Also, Netowork tv in particular operates severe time limits usually one-minute and the cable mode is around the clock. TV devotes more time for president than congress or the supreme court. Media personify issues to purpose appeal. Result of Horse race journalism is focus on what's ahead than the candidates stance.

All citizens rely on mass media
1) 9/10 Americans believe media strongly influences the political institutions.
- Researchers thinks tv news communications is probably the single greatest
influential opinion.

2)Media is the role of the political agenda.
a) Media heighten the publics concern of society and distorts incidents, which
confuse policies. They need ample evidence.

3)TV operates medium political socialization
and compared to early days TV erodes confidence in criminal justice system.

The media is the diverse impact democracy the news is more liberal and publishers more conservative. Also the Media contributes to the Majoritian model of democracy by improving on accurate information, polling citizens, advancing equality, and Resent attempts to infringe on freedom of press. As well, Journalist are more likely to regard freedom og press sacrosanct.

But the media can operate as the interest group of pluralist democracy because they report what they wish in order to maintain order.

P.s. sorry for the multiple edits.