American Media Politics in Transition Book

Chapter 1 The Political Medium Shapes the Political Message
Oral Political Culture
Written Political Culture
Video Political Culture
Benjamin’s Hope, Postman’s Nightmare

Chapter 2 Theories of Media Influence
Functions of the Media
What Is Bias?
Is the Media Really Liberal?
Scholarly Models of Media Influence
The Social Conservative View
The Radical View: A Unified Capitalist Domination of Media
The Current Paradigm

Chapter 3 Media Matters: Measuring the Effects
Analyzing the Effects of Media on Consumers
What Media Studies Tell Us
Framing
Priming
Yes, Media Matters

Chapter 4 The History of American Journalism before Electronic Media
The Colonial Era: 1960–1770
Revolutionary Era Press: 1760–1789
The Partisan Press Era: 1789–1860
The Dawn of Mass Media: Sensationalism and Muckraking, 1860–1920
The Muckrakers: 1900–1920

Chapter 5 Journalism Goes Electronic . . . and Corporate
The Professional Era: 1920–1972
Radio: The Ignored Medium in Political News?
Watchdog Journalism: 1973–1991
The Rise of the New Journalism: Era within an Era
The Era of Infotainment: 1992–Present

Chapter 6 The Media and the Law
Exceptions to Freedom of Speech
Special Rules for Broadcast Media
The Media Go to Court: Privileges and Restrictions
Internet Media and the Law
The Federal Judiciary and the Media
Conclusion: Necessary Institutions in Conflict

Chapter 7 The Personalized, Image-based Media Presidency
The President’s Power and the Media
Challenges for the President
The White House Media Staff
Media Tactics for Good News: Polishing the Positive
Media Tactics for Bad News: Damage Control
Conclusion: The Image Presidency

Chapter 8 Institutions in Conflict: The Media and the Military
War Journalism Emerges: Sensationalism, Propaganda, and Courage
Culture Clash: Soldiers and Reporters
Patriotism and the Media: Does Journalism “Follow the Flag” or the Truth?
Media and Operational Security: Do Loose Reporter Lips Sink American Ships?
Video and the Horror of War: Too Painful to Show?
Government Tactics: Managing the Media in War
Case Study I: Did the Press Lose Vietnam?
Case Study II: The Persian Gulf War as Military Video Game
Case Study III: Iraq as Reality TV?
Conclusion: Changes and Trends

Chapter 9 Congress and the Media: Covering the Sausage Factory of Legislation
The Public Image of Congress
How Members of Congress Use the Media
Distorting the Legislative Process: How the Media Misses the Story
The Media as a Centrifugal Force in Congress: Weakening and Changing Leadership
Congress versus the Media
Congress on the Web: An Unfiltered Legislature?
Interest Groups and the Media: Talking to Congress through the Press
Conclusion: A Distortion Becoming Real?

Chapter 10: Mediated Elections: Campaigns and Modern Journalism
Presidential Campaigns
New Media: Talking to Letterman about the Law
Paid Media and Modern Political Journalism: Leveraging and Targeting
Polls and Exit Polls: Predicting the Vote or Altering It?
Conclusion: Reforms for Better Campaign Journalism

Chapter 11 The Internet and the Future of Media Politics
The Promise of the Internet
The Defects of the Internet for Media Politics
Conclusion: The Inevitable Internet