Democracy (self government) depends upon media that inform people.

People are rational

Knowledge crucial

Diversity, competing ideas needed

Truth emerges from debate

Surveillance

Interpretation

Linkage

Agenda Setting

Congress shall make no law...abridging freedom of speech or press

Special protection for press

Press not neutral conduit

Press: create, channel friction

Watchdog role: check on power

Error inevitable in debate

Rationale for FOP: for nation, not press

FOP: Responsive government, lawful change

Government censorship

Anti-democratic

Limits ideas, options

Highly variable

First Amendment: Congress shall make no law...abridging freedom of speech or of the press..."

1. At the President’s suggestion, Congress declares war against Iraq. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer criticizes the decision, saying it is a waste of human life. Federal officials move to close the newspaper, arguing that it is a hindrance to the war effort. "This kind of loose, unfounded criticism of national policy undermines the morale of troops," said one federal official.

If they cannot get the newspaper closed, federal officials want it under strict orders not to criticize the war.

Should federal officials be able to close -- or at least censor -- the paper?

2. The Seattle Times ran a story showing that the City of Seattle had purposely overpaid (by about $45 million) for the construction of a parking garage in the Nordstrom development of the old Frederick & Nelson building downtown. City Council members and the mayor have defended the deal, saying it kept the downtown vital and alive. In an editorial, the Times calls the deal "a boondoggle of immense proportions -- a tremendous use of public funds." People are upset. City council members each have received hundreds of phone calls from angry constituents. About 100 angry protesters show up at city hall today, carrying signs attacking the garage deal. The Police Chief wants to close down the paper, arguing that it is a threat to public order. OK?

3. The New York Times has printed the first in a 5-part series of articles on threats to the U.S. food supply, focusing on serious illnesses and even deaths from the E coli bacteria. The first article notes the 1997 outbreak of E coli from a few fresh juices from Odwalla; it also notes other outbreaks in prepared fresh salad packages. Odwalla and Amalgamated Grocers (the distributors of about 60 per cent of U.S. prepared salads) go to court asking for an injunction against the paper, arguing that the reports are "inflaming the public mind and causing irreparable damage" to their business. Odwalla reports that its problems have been solved; AG argues that none of its salads have carried the bacteria.

4. NBC News is planning to run a story this evening that the Clinton White House has facilitated -- perhaps inadvertently -- the transfer of major nuclear and computer technology to China. While some critics of the White House have been making similar charges for months, this appears to be the first definitive news story with substantial supporting documentation. The White House moves to censor the story, arguing that it seriously threatens the nation’s security.

(Lecture continued on to Thursday, January 7).

1.Agent for democracy

2. Community

3. Teacher

4. Entertainment

Self Government.

(See Tuesday, January 4).

Community membership

Participation

Common focus, experience

Common knowledge

Media as Teachers

What is natural, correct, ideal.

Beauty, family, consumption, politics, race and violence.

Media and Entertainment

Enjoyment, excitement, relaxation(drama, comedy, sports, etc.).

Substantial amount of time.

Impact of media images

Powerful media

Limited effects

Current theories:

Social learning, socialization, cultivation hypothesis

Expanded overheads, on powerful media and limited effects (illustrating how to take notes in class):

1. Powerful Media. early 20^th c.

(a)=Direct, single causation.

(b) like hypodermic needle.

(c) assumes audience passive, vulnerable

Yes, impact, but impact depends on:

• Attention Levels
• Amt. of exposure
• Receptivity (age, educ., sophistication, inter-personal relationships)

As described in lecture, agenda setting refers to:

1. media influence over Congressional agenda

2. media power to focus and thus define issues.

3. external influences that control media content.

4. media bias.

5. None of the above

1. Structure, Organization

Government ownership

Public ownership

Private, commercial entities

2. Media Funding

1. Government ownership, subsidies

2. License fees

3. Subscription fees

4. Usage fees

5. Advertising

3. U.S. Media Companies

Private Ownership

Minimal governmental control

Businesses

Profit Orientation

Revenue: ads, subscriptions

Heavy dependence on advertising

News: industry standards

Competition

Economies of Scale

Efficiency: Conglomerates, Chains

4. Why Concentration?

Legally, OK.

Media properties very profitable

Existing media profits very high. How to spend?

Sale prices very high.

U.S. Tax laws

Efficiencies

Synergy: cross promotion

5. Media Concentration

Positive Aspects: Potential efficiency, more resources, autonomy and independence, investment.

Negative Aspects: Fewer independent voices, non-local owners, transient personnel, profits go elsewhere, service to US?, service to other nations?

Handout for Thursday, January 7, 1999.

Time Warner (Partial ownership by U.S. West, Honshu, Toshiba)

Print: Time, Fortune, Life, Sports Illustrated, People. Time-Life Books, Little Brown, Book-of-the-Month Club, DC Comics, Mad, Turner Publishing.

TV, Films, Cable: Turner Broadcasting, WB, CNN, TBS, TNT, Turner Classic Movies, Cartoon Network, Airport Channel, HBO, HBO Video, HBO International, CNN International, New Line Cinema, Castle Rock, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. TV, Warner Bros. Home Video, Warner Cable.

Music: Warner Bros. Records, Atlantic Records, WEA Intl., Elektra.

Multimedia: Pathfinder WWW site, Atari (25%), Crystal Dynamics, Sega Channel

Other: Atlanta Hawks, Braves; 100+ retail stores; 1,000+ theaters outside US.

Print: Simon & Schuster, Pocket Books, Free Press, Macmillan, Scribner’s.

TV, Films and Cable: Paramount Pictures, Paramount TV, UPN, Cinamerica, Viacom Cable, Showtime, Movie Channel, MTV, MTV International, VH1, Nickelodeon, SciFi Channel, Blockbuster Video.

Music: Blockbuster Music, Famous Music.

Multimedia: Simon & Schuster Interactive, Viacom Interactive, Viacom New Media, MacMillan Digital.

Print: London Times, Boston Herald, The Sun, San Antonio Express, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, South China Morning Post, Fiji Times, HarperCollins, Triangle Publications, TV Guide.

TV, Films, Cable: 20th Century Fox, Fox Broadcast, 22 U.S. TV stations, Fox Video, Fox Cable Net, f/x, British Sky Broadcast, Star TV (Hong Kong).

Music: 20th Century Fox Records.

Multimedia: Online venture with MCI, Delphi.

Print: USA Today, Gannett Dailies (92), Gannett News Service.

TV, Films, Cable: GTG Entertainment, 10 TV Stations.

Music: 16 radio stations Multimedia: USA Today Online.

Transportation, Turbines for nuclear reactors and electric power plants, Electrical Equipment, Motors and Controls, Plastics, Networking software, Financial, Lighting, Appliances, Medical Services, Insurance, Aircraft engines, NBC -- 9 TV stations, CNBC, Bravo; Partial ownership of A&E, History Channel, Independent Film Channel, News Sport, Prism, 7 regional sports channels (Cincinnati, Chicago, Florida, New England, Pacific, Ohio, Philadelphia).