Media In Politics Essay Research Paper The

The Media in Politics

The media is intended to be a honest and intelligent source of information. Recently, many critics have argued that honesty has been replaced by greed. The media is looked upon as a money hungry industry, trying to find the sleaziest headline to attract the public’s dollar. Caught in the middle of this mess are politicians. Although most are fairly honest men, the acts of a few have dragged the rest through the mud. Today, the biggest headline that a media mogul could ask for, is the President Clinton Scandal. Many people claim that the media went too far with their coverage, shedding their integrity for a few measly dollars. Did the public have a right to know. Or does a politician’s private life stay private once that person is elected to public office. Information via the media is the fastest it has ever been in the history of our time, and it is impossible not to take advantage of this resources. But, how can we trust an industry that may just be out for our money. By writing this paper, I would like to prove that the media, although it may sometimes go too far, is nothing more than an industry trying to give us information in the quickest possible way. The History of the Media Handwritten notices of ancient Rome known as Acta Diurna, Acta Senatus, and Acta Publica, are known as the world’s first newspapers. In the mid-15th century, a revolution occured in the printing business. German inventor Johann Gutenberg manufactured the movable metal type. Although in the Far East, the wooden type was being used since the 6th century, the metal type forged the way for the first mass printing of newpapers. In 1690, the first American newspaper was published.

Around 1890, yellow journalism was the new trend in the media. Yellow jounalism emphasized sensationalism and entertainment. This led to the 1920’s, when jazz journalism or tabloids began to circulate. Tabloids also had a sensational approach to the news and also had many illustrations. Then came perhaps the biggest influence of them all: television. “When I was a child, one thing I will always remember is John F. Kennedy’s funeral. That was one of the first politically related topics I had ever seen. Then, when Lee Harvey Oswald was killed on live television, it seemed to make the world a lot smaller place,” says Gretchen Sampson, a respected county employee. Also, shows such as “60 minutes,” “Nightline,” and “Meet the Press,” often feature politicians who present their viewpoints on political issues to national audiences. CNN, a all news cable channel, features round the clock political updates. With all of this information, it is hard for the general public to keep up, unless they have a degree in political science. The internet is the latest medium the media uses to reach out to the public. Chat sessions with politicians and web sites explaining certain candidate’s views are just a few of the many ways people can learn more about today’s politics.

Today, most news corporations are owned and run by big corporations, such as Disney, Gannet, and Knight-Rider. Critics say ownership by these corporations cause the news to lose its’creativity and independence. Jeff Peterson, a local member of the Green Party and a candidate for State Treasurer, says that the influence of big business causes the news to be “filtered, and not in-depth.” In past political history, a politician’s private life was just that-private. Presidents such as Kennedy, Johnson, and Eisehower were known to be “ladie’s men.” Reporting this in the media, though, would be considered impolite and unacceptable. For example, Kennedy’s alleged connection with Marilyn Monroe was widely known throughout the country, but never mentioned in any type of publication. Tammy Swiontek, who has four years of experience in covering politics for the Inter-County Leader Newspaper, is quoted in a recent interview as saying: “Ethics 30 yrs ago were a lot more strictly followed. Today we are hearing the President’s grand jury testimony on live TV.” It is hard to understand how the media could go from timid mice to viscous sharks. One possible reason could be the competition for readers. In the headlines lately, there has been talk of reporters at various newspapers and television stations fabricating entire interviews and stories just to get readers or viewers. In fact, a few reporters found to have done these deeds were forced to resign or were fired from their positions. This shows how desperate certain reporters can get when trying to get the “exclusive” story.The Relationship Between the Media and Politicians After watching one newscast, one might say that the media only hurts politicians. That is only partly true. What we don’t sometimes realize, is that politicians use the media as a valuable service. Jeff Peterson, a local member of the Green Party and a candidate for state treasurer, says that the media and politicians are “co-dependent.” A politician’s message is easier to convey if an article is written about them. Most politicians try to develop good relationships with the local media so favorable things are written about them. For some papers, though, that is not always the case. Swiontek is required to not favor any political candidate one way or another when she reports on politics. She also could not even sport a political bumper sticker on the back of her car. So how does the media hurt politicians. By intensive investigative reporting