Media and the Electoral Process
I. Current Varieties of Media with Significant News Focus
A. Newspapers
C. Television
1. Broadcast
2. Cable/Satellite
D. Radio (talk radio and the "fairness doctrine")
E. Internet as "Group Media"
II. "Free" Media
A. Varieties
B. Roles
1. Idealized
2. Actual
C. Motivations
III. Paid Media
A. Varieties
B. Controversies
1. Attack Ads (effectiveness; critique)
C. Impact
1. Intended
2. Unintended
IV. Recent Changes in the Media: Fragmentation and Consequences
1. Encouragement of social, cultural, racial
isolation
2. Fostering of biased, singular, insular and
extremist views
3. Development of Tabloid Journalism -- lurid
focus on human interest stories
4. The "Celebretization" of politics
and politicians
5. Hardening of pre-existing views and closing
of minds by allowing viewers to
select sources of news
with which they are most familiar and comfortable
6. News programs as
"cash cows"
V. Politicians Relations to Media
A. Dependence/Reliance
B. Suspicious/Fearful
Key Web Sites
Types of Mass Media: Comparative Advertising Advantages and Disadvantages