History of and Problems in the News

THEME #1: History of the News

In Ch. 4 Schudson examines the history of the news media as it has developed in the United States and sporadically in Europe. His analysis of the history of American journalism provides a look the coming of age of the American press from the colonial days of modest four page journals published by small time business men mostly for advertising and with very little interest in the news to the growth of ideals of free press, to the take over of politics and partisanship in the news media, to the penny papers and the commercialization of the news, to the rise of yellow journalism and sensationalism, to the glory days of the news in the 1960s when such great feats as the Pentagon papers and Watergate were accomplished. Schudson's analysis delves into the changing and evolving values of the news always with the footnote that where we have been as journalists determines where and who we are. It is interesting to watch the field change and grow into its modern form in just 30 or so pages. The history of journalism written by Schudson, is, however, somewhat lacking. It focuses almost exclusively on American press coverage of politics, though beats of education, crime, international news and others must have had their own coming of age stories that were just as relevant. It also emphasises the big, mainstream eastern publications, almost ignoring those printed by and about minorities and how they developed as well as local and western news sources. Finally, Schudson's analysis of the history of journalism, when it does look beyond the border of the United States fails to examine any other news media outside of the global north, and beyond that particularly confines itself to European coverage as a relief framework for the changes in the American press over time. On the other hand, his look at the history of American journalism does provide a varied look at the ideas, values and cultural changes that impacted and influenced the development of the press. Further, he does provide a good emperical framework for his timeline.

Questions on History

1. What trend or development in American journalism as described by Schudson, has been most influential in shaping the current landscape and norms of the news media? Why?

2. At its very essence, has the news changed in the last three hundred years. Obviously the means mediums and methods have changed, but have the nature or the roll of the news in society changed? Things to consider: capitalism and sensationalism vs. the more recent development of values of nonpartisanship in news writing.

THEME #2: Press vs. Politics
An over arching theme of these two chapters, vaguely hinted at in his analysis of the history of news and addressed with full attention in his discussion of modern problems in the news is the relationship between the press and democratic politics. Schudson describes, though never really takes a stance on, the way journalists treat one of their most important subjects- politics. There are many arguments in modern conversations about journalism and its shortcommings, that reoprters have become increasingly cynical and enterntainment oriented in their coverage of American politics. Among other arguments, Schudson presents scholars who say that journalists treat the American political system as a game- often with two major players (can you guess who they are?) rather than a multifaceted and complicated political system. He references others who criticize journalists for increased negative political coverage of politicians and for playing into sensationalized "scandal-hungary" coverage of the government. All arguments are interesting and it would be my tendency to agree with most of them. The American press does, in my opinion tend to pit itself against the government, constantly questioning every move and motive of elected officials. This attitude of the press becomes even more obvious during election times when tensions are running high and it is both easy and compelling to present the democratic process as a two party race for power. I find myself guilty of this both in the way I watch the coverage of elections, as well as in the way I cover and discuss it myself. But the more interesting question, for which Schudson does not present a simple answer, is is this bad?

Questions:

1. Is it a negative thing for the press to constantly question a freely and democratically elected government? Does this only create cynicism and polerization among the public or does it serve to keep a government that is and should be "of the people, for the people and by the people" on its toes and in line?

2. How did media coverage, including that of comedic news sources like SNL and the Daily Show, of the last election prove or disprove Patterson’s arguments about the news media’s attitude toward politicians in its coverage? Do you find yourselfs, even as a student of journalism guilty of this kind of attitude?

Links:

TIME Magazine covers during the 2008 Campaign
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20081110,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20081006,00.html
http://www.time.com/time/covers/0,16641,20080811,00.html

Time magazine coverage of the first presidential debate of the 2008 election
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/16/us/politics/16debate.html?_r=1

John Stuart takes on Crossfire during the 2004 presidential election
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFQFB5YpDZE

SNL Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mouuayay5oY