Media and Politics

Media and Politics

September 11, 2001. After the bombings of the Twin Towers in New York, the media had a field day. There was not one single television show, newspaper, or magazine that did not discuss in depth this huge national catastrophe. Our President, George Bush had approval ratings in the ninetieth percentile for a job well done in handling this tragedy and demonstrating a strong sense of nationalism and patriotism. He catered toward the wants of the American citizens and the media exploded. Eventually, after redundant repetition of the catastrophic events of September eleventh, the public began to tune out and become somewhat tiresome. On top of that the war in Iraq has brought Bush's approval ratings down to a mere thirty six percent.

Politics, corporations, media, and the public are in a constant cycle. The large corporations at the top, possess a great deal of power. They have strong influence over politics and the media because of economic reasons--money talks-- and politics has strong influence over the public. The large corporations give money and funding to politics and media that reflects their views. For example, CNN is a highly Republican based television network. The large corporation that funds CNN would not allow someone who went against their ideals to be a part of their network. At the same time, politics and large corporations are catering to the public wants and demands because they need the support of the people. Like when Bush was catering to the people of our nation during the September eleventh crisis. So everything works in a cyclic formation.

Media seems to be everywhere these days-- television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the internet-- and is an important way of simultaneous public communication. "Over 98 percent of American households own at least one TV" (Wasserman, 237). That statement says a lot about our culture and the way we receive and digest information, including that of politics. There is no avoiding what television portrays. Through repetition, channel after channel, it is inevitable. The media has a huge effect on politics, and molds what the nation's people view by spotlighting certain political issues as well as emphasizing the interests and values of their large corporation owner's ideals. The media caters towards entertainment and is centered around advertising, which alters the message and image of politics. "There is consensus that media relations are a core feature of the political process." (J. Palmer, 347). The mass media is contributing to the citizens' general dissatisfaction with, and distrust of, the government by dramatizing political news and focusing on conflict, which ultimately contribute to their cynical perception of government.

The amount of media play and attention that is given to certain issues completely defines and contours the public's view of how important they are. By reporting certain issues and events, and leaving out others, the media is portraying to the public issues they feel are significantly important. What is broadcasted and printed and what is not establishes political figures, sets priorities, and focuses attention on issues. Media molds the national agenda, and frames the nation's issues. "There can be no doubt that the centrality of the mass media has had an impact upon political strategy." (J. Palmer, 351). The media can present an issue in many ways, and the public reacts in accordance as a reflection of what the media is portraying. Newscasts affect the political information available.

Television and newspapers are privately owned economic companies that are highly profitable assets. "Money is access to power" (Wasserman, 228). There is a strong linkage between large corporations, money, and politics. Large corporations own much, if not all, of the media. The media are in turn affected by the large corporations that own them, the advertisers that pay for their messages, the managers who run them, and the public. Most of the large corporations' profits are made through advertising. "Political advertising is commonly concentrated in the campaign phase of the political process." (J. Palmer, 358). Through the media, campaigning politicians see a huge window of opportunity, and in presidential races, spend sixty percent of their money on advertising. Advertising and the media are a core part of the political process. By buying an advertisement space in some papers or programs and not others, affect the message sent out to the public. And all of this is controlled by the large corporations and companies that own them. The owners of the companies say who will handle the running of press and what general "slant" of media they want to be. Government leaders have a range of tactics to getting the media to conform to their political priorities, and can shape their coverage. The media are some of the most powerful factors in politics.

Politicians live and die by media coverage. "Television is the medium through which voters form their judgments." (Chaffe, Kanihan, 424). They try to get on the good side of the media by giving "exclusive leaks" and controlling information going to the public. Also, in order to try and keep a good image, Presidents will deliver good news on television to the public, however will have someone else do the "dirty work" in telling all of the bad news. "The ways in which citizens' thoughts and actions are shaped and influenced by the output of mass media; and partly about political communication and the management of parties and governments: the emergence of 'spin' and the extensive