The American Media - Essay Example

HOW HAS THE AMERICAN MEDIA CHANGED SINCE 1990? WHAT HAVE BEEN THE POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES? by of the of the Name of the School City, State February 8, 2013 Media is “television, radio, and print journalism, and there are many media degrees that focuses on these key areas” (Cardwell and Trotman publishing, 2000, P.1). The history of American media dates back to 1828, when the first American Indian newspaper was published in the present-day Calhoun County, Georgia town. It was the first newspaper to be published (Levo-Henriksson, 2007). The development of native broadcasting commenced almost a hundred and fifty years later. The Americans have harnessed their airwaves, and it has become difficult to give the exact number of broadcast stations, but by 1995 there were at least 26 Indian-owned radio stations in the United States of America. When dealing with media, many people think of television, radio, internet, and mails. Television is the news source most relied on by the American people. The media takes the effort to share information or entertain different people in different language and location (Sterling and Kittross, 2002). Media first begun when the cavemen shouted to send a warning or communicating with people, earshot which was closer to modern methods of media, and technology such as horn, bells, drums, and fire signal. Eventually people started to use more complex methods to communicate to the next generation. The first real change in media came with the introduction of the printing press. For years the technological development of media involved distance, speed, number of copies, and quantity. Every new technology was a balance of these demands (Sterling and Kittross, 2002). The pony express was used to deliver mails faster than any other method. Speed and distance helped in the development of telegraphs. In American, the first practical telegraph was invented by Samuel Finley Breene Morse, also known as an artist. The telegraph became the most effective form of media. With the successful development of the telegraph and telephone in America communication was much easier. At this time electricity was used and with the use of electricity, the radio was introduced. Radio broadcasting thus became the new electrical communication. The telegraph, telephone, and radio were the quickest ways of communication (Sterling and Kittross, 2002). The radio reduced the reliance on wires, and also reduced the production of copies and hand-lettering. However, media development was slow and experienced some challenges such as the freedom of press, regulation of broadcasting and other issues. Freedom of press: Freedom of press can be traced back to the ratification of the bill of right amendment of 1791. Media in the United States shows the values and complexity of the society and work. The first amendment of the United States constitution provides the freedom of press in America; this is because the constitution protects press freedom in fifty states, and few press law are in force in America. Freedom of press and the freedom of speech are almost one and the same (Vile, 2003). The laws that exist for the freedom of press tend to provide additional protection and legal rights for journalists. Regulation of broadcasting: Because of their special characteristics, radio and television broadcasting have been subjects to regulation in what they broadcast. Courts have upheld that there should be regulation that doesn’t violate the first amendment. Over the years, broadcasting regulations in the United Kingdom have been very different from those in the United States. This is due to the fact that the United States broadcasting regulations have been subject to the government powers suspicion (Matos, 2012). The subject of regulation has been defended with some of the views favoring the public interest, and securing an independent media. The media regulation of broadcasting has had its limits, and this served as media marketing and a means to enhance its position that it regulates, to enable the citizens to receive and get quality information, as well as to ensure that there is fair competition (Matos, 2012). Media regulation of broadcasting has been successful; this is because of its high attentiveness to its citizens and customers. Since 1990, the media has been influenced by media commercialization, and the entry of cables, and satellites. The media in its development has promoted other forms of development, such as social and economic development. Foreign ownership and ethnic media reflects on the significance of American and the ethnic diversity of its people. There is the presence of foreign media and domestic media in the country. Foreign media got the privilege to enjoy the same rights as the domestic media in America. They were not a subject to restriction in areas like cables and transmissions. Journalism education: American journalism benefits from a wide range of educational facilities. The first American school was established in 1908, in Missouri, but by 1190 a large number of universities offered this course. The beginning of the twenty first century marked the transition for journalism education in America (Sloan and Parcell, 2002). The enrollment growth was slow but during the1990s, there was a gradual upward enrollment of the journalism education. The rise in journalism education in America can be attributed to advertising, increase in the interest of communication, and public relations. In recent years, mass communication and journalism appear to be headed for another transformation. Instead of mass communication, revolution is taking place with the development of internet and the emerging range of media. Ethics in journalism: The American watchdog came into power in 1960s during the Vietnam War, and during the Watergate investigation of 1970. The American press played a major role in the unpopular war and the Watergate investigation of 1970. According to Wilkins and Christians, “the Media Ethics Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication was established in 1999 with a membership of nearly 200 scholars” (2009, pp. 24-25). The media ethics has had their representation in the association for practical and professional ethics in 1991. The chair of media ethics were endowed at McGill University. Since 1990, the media ethics was incorporated into North America. Some of the media ethics are like the advertising of tobacco products, which are legal to advertise, but the difference comes with how the advertisers view the product; some view the product to be harmful to one`s health (Wells, 1997). These decisions are made on the basis of ethics rather than law. The law provides a minimal set of restrictions on behavior; therefore ethics expands that set on how one should act. The law prohibited lying to the viewers. Individual privacy is increasing and the current technology allows journalists to access any situation. During the 1990 Gulf War, the Government limited the journalists on what to release during news, videos, and graphics. Media and election: American media has played an important role in the electoral process. Tens of thousands of the daily and weekly newspapers cover a wide range of electoral campaigns. The mass media is sometimes referred to as the fourth estate or fourth branch of government; this is because of its wide perception on existing political powers (McKay, 2009). This is nevertheless new, because presidents use the media to build their support, and candidates win approval and acceptance for their public image. Television, radio, and print media, and now the internet are the only communication channels for politicians, parties, and organized interests. American politicians are using the media to show and height their political influence. Print media has influenced the American politics, as the United States became the first mass-participation democracy, which has fully developed political parties; the newspapers have been used to give support to particular candidates (McKay, 2009). With the change that occurred during the 1990s, political view was promoted. Looking at media and election, politicians were able to even market themselves in their country and in foreign countries (Van Belle, 2000). The increase of candidate-centered politics and elections in America has had more effect on the changing nature of campaign, where the public and media policies have changed. Presidential candidates are able to show their character on the platform (Sabato and Ernst, 2007). The media has become less concerned about the elite politicians, and have focused their attention on the personal side of politicians. The media associations have come clear to outline the problems in the American media, and they document them. The new media infiltration of the political world has been fostered by the politicians. There is a tendency of difficulty in control of the politician messages; politicians have used the new media so as to tell their stories (Davis and Owen, 1998). Politicians such as President Clinton have used the new media as a venue to gain political legitimacy. Televisions have been used by politicians as a place of tug-of-war in determining who has maintained the most control over the news content. During the 1992 presidential campaign, the balance of power appeared to have shifted to the media. During this time, the politicians had been covered more than any other time. Through the new media, politicians are able to bypass the traditional press and deliver their messages directly to the public (Davis and Owen, 1998). Researchers have found out that when the politicians are given the opportunity to write their own media script, they instead emphasize about their own moral self-worth, more than their knowledge of politics. Nevertheless, some of the politicians have been unhappy with the new media. In conclusion, media can be referred to as any way of transmitting or conveying a message such as through television, newspaper, radio, and the internet which is the new media. There have been many ways that the media has changed since 1990. Some of the changes are like in the freedom of press, media and election, journalism ethics, and journalism education. These factors have affected the political arena in different ways; politicians now have a chance to be known worldwide and use the media for their campaigns in their nations. Generally, the media has played a very major role in the role life of politicians and in politics. Reference List Cardwell, S. and Trotman Publishing, 2000. Studying Media. Surrey: Trotman and Company Limited. Christ, W. ed., 1997. Media Education Assessment Handbook. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Association, Inc. Davis, R. and Owen, D., 1998. New Media and American Politics. New York: Oxford University Press. Levo-Henriksson, R., 2007. Media and Ethnic Identity: Hopi Views on Media, Identity, and Communication. New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. Matos, C., 2012.Media and Politics in Latin America: Globalization, Democracy and Identity. New York: I.B. Tauris Publishers. McKay, D. ed., 2009. American Politics and Society. West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons. Sabato, L. and Ernst, H., 2007. Encyclopedia of American Political Parties and Elections. New York: InfoBase Publishing. Sloan, W. and Parcell, L. ed., 2002. American Journalism: History, Principles, Practices. North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. Sterling, C. and Kittross, J. ed., 2002: Stay Tuned: A History of American Broadcasting. New York: Taylor & Francis. Van Belle, D., 2000. Press Freedom and Global Politics. Westport: Greenwood Publishing Group. Vile, J. ed., 2003. Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments: Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues. California: ABS-CLIO, Inc. Wells, A. and Hakanen, E. ed., 1997. Mass Media & Society. London: JAI Press Ltd. Wilkins, L. and Christians, C. ed., 2009. The Handbook of Mass Media Ethics. New York: Routledge.     Read More