news Media

The video starts by recalling the Watergate scandal, where The Washington Post's reporting by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein led to President Nixon's resignation. This event exemplified the press's crucial watchdog role under the First Amendment, holding those in power accountable for wrongdoing.

For most people, politics is a second-hand experience understood through the media. The video examines the public's news consumption, how the media functions, and its norms. Early American newspapers were partisan, relying on government contracts. Technological advancements, from the rotary press in the 1830s to steam-powered presses in the late 1800s, made newspapers cheaper and more widespread. Radio news in the 1920s and 30s, followed by TV news in the 1950s, further expanded the news audience.

During the 1950s and 60s, TV news viewership was massive, and newspaper readership was also very high, with newspapers having shed their partisan roots to rely on advertising. Regulatory requirements for broadcast outlets to treat political parties equally led to a relatively standardized national news landscape, creating an 'information commons'. This period saw a rise in political knowledge, particularly among less educated individuals, as television made information more accessible.

Since the 1970s, Americans have become less politically informed. Examples like public misunderstanding of the TARP program and troop levels in Afghanistan illustrate this decline. The explanation starts with the advent of cable television, which offered more entertainment options, leading to a shrinking broadcast news audience and declining newspaper readership. People spend more time consuming media, but less on news.

News consumption has decreased across all age groups, especially among young adults, who are significantly less attentive to news than older generations. While young adults may get news online, national politics is not a primary focus for them. Cable television disrupted the formation of a 'news habit' in young people, leading to this generation being the least informed in polling history.

Changes in the news itself have also contributed to the decline in public awareness. The media, while a civic institution, is also a business needing to attract audiences. This has led to news becoming more focused on entertainment, with local news emphasizing crime and accidents. National news outlets have also 'softened' their content, prioritizing stories about celebrities, crime, and personal health over public affairs. This shift, accompanied by increased sensationalism, distracts from substantive policy discussions.

The abolition of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987 paved the way for partisan media. Talk radio, largely conservative, gained a huge audience, leading to the creation of Fox News as a conservative TV alternative. MSNBC then positioned itself as a liberal alternative. Political blogs and comedy programs also became part of this partisan media landscape. These outlets create 'echo chambers' where audiences consume content reinforcing their existing beliefs.

Partisan media's coverage often highlights specific aspects of events, as seen in the contrasting reporting of the Mueller report by Fox News and MSNBC. Studies show that exposure to partisan media reinforces beliefs, fosters negative views of the opposing party, and distorts understanding of policy positions. This transformation from an 'information commons' to a system of 'alternative realities' complicates public debate, as factual agreement, essential for constructive discussion, is eroded.

While the American media system is still dominated by traditional news outlets, partisan media plays a significant role in promoting specific interests. The new media system, shaped by cable and the internet, offers a mix of traditional and partisan outlets. While the old system was better at creating an informed public, the new system is better at fostering an engaged public. This fragmented media landscape means that the news and the public will never be the same again.