POL 313

 

The Presidency and the Media

 

 

Cronin: The President and Television

 

 

 

FDR


One may argue that a significant way to explore the development of the presidency is through the examination of the growth of the mass media and the nature of the relationship between the media and the President. In essence this is an exploration of the relationship between the president and the public. One can argue that the media plays an inordinately important role in providing information to the general public about the president and that the media, by controlling "the public agenda" (deciding what is important to cover) can shape public attitudes towards the president and thus affect president/public relations (ie., the popular connection). The type of media in various eras is also important.


The Media and the President Through History

1. Beginnings to early 1820s

media as contributor to the democratic debate?


2. 1820s to turn of the century

"Yellow journalism"

newspaper moguls as major players in politics

during this time, papers are partisan
many are viewed as the organ or "mouthpiece" of a party
but technological and societal changes conspire to make press more "neutral"
some of this was related to printing contracts
(this changes with the advent of the Government Printing Office)

during this era of the "partisan press" presidents often
gave exclusives to one paper

Lincoln (seeking support for the Civil War from all papers)
provides access to all during his term

the growth of the telegraph and the advent of wire services
and their emphasis on neutrality also spell changes

growth of advertsing and not want to offend readers


two great technological advances (radio and television)
foster even greater changes

they make the "public connection" an instantaneous one
not hampered by interpretation


 

3. Turn of the century to 1955

Teddy Roosevelt and utilizing the press to speak directly to the people

"going over the head of 'Washington'"

"respectful" President/ press relationship

move from print to electronic (radio) age

FDR "fireside chats"
(FDR Library and digitized documents)

FDR/ press concealment of FDR disability

4. 1955 to 1980



first presidential press conference telecast in 1955

growth of television

effects of television and advertising on selection process and office

poor president/ media relations

Vietnam

Johnson and Nixon attacks on press

Watergate

residual effects on Ford/ Carter

5. 1980-88

the Reagan presidency

"going over the heads of 'Washington'"

"On Bended Knee" management of the press

Iran/Contragate

6. 1988-present

residual effects of Watergate

Bush/ Clinton era of strained press relations

"tabloid" style