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Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S

The media has huge power over democracy in the United States because all the Americans

access the news from the press rather than other sources. The media coverage greatly influences

how Americans perceive the world. Politicians and voters also pay much attention to the media

during elections. Moreover, the Media performs an important role in the American political

system. It reports the news, serves as a link between the people and the government, engages

people in society and politics. It is a very influential tool when it comes to the politics of any

given country. The media can influence voters to vote in a specific way, and politicians have

come to acknowledge that for them to win in any elections or political matters (Carr et al.), the

media has to be their closest ally for them to secure political positions with much ease. The essay

below seeks to critically examine the role of the media in the United States democratic politics

focusing specifically on media ownership and the journalism crisis.

To understand how the media shapes the United States politics, McChesney looks at the

evolution of media in the United States. From 1920 to 1930, the media of the United States was a

commercialized venture driven by profit-making that supported political advertising. However,

in 1949, the Federal Communication on Commission by the state institution for media regulation

came up with a rule that compelled business journalists to report news about matters of public

significance and impartially have various debatable topics. A policy prohibited by the Reagan

government and some studies attributes as the start of diverged and biased media. At the start of
Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S 2

the millennium, the media had returned to being a profit-making industry serving the political

agendas of politicians in return for legislative favors.

Media corporations play a major role whereby media corporations are platforms for

articulating political power. The case study of Rupert Murdoch helps us understand how

corporate media players navigate the supremacy forces of the media networks to achieve their

predominant business objectives. Rupert Murdoch is the Chief Executive Officer of the third-

largest media corporation known as NewsCorp. Rupert knows that media and politics go hand in

hand. Facilitating political leverages aids NewsCorp in expanding its investments by being

granted regulatory approvals, thus making it have wider audience allocations and, in turn,

enlarges its political authority and generates a cycle of influence.

Between 1998 and 2006, the recipients of Murdoch's political funds were democrats. For

example, Murdoch supported the George Bush war on Iraq because of the economic benefits

which would come to his corporation due to the war. He also donated a sum of thirty-eight

thousand dollars to John Markey, a major player in the 1996 media act that authorized NewsCorp

to assimilate straight up 20th Century Fox, TV Guide, and HarperCollins publishers. The

examples above show that media ownership influences political decisions and vice versa

(Arsenault & Castells).

The Media lacks objectivity and shows bias news by closely scrutinizing and challenging

government expenditure. These expenditures predominantly serve the underprivileged and the

middle class. e.g., welfare, health care, and civic education budgets. However, Media does not

oppose or inquire about the government's expenditure in matters of national intelligence,

overseas policies, plus military undertakings that advance the socially privileged desires who

have interests in commercial power (Holmes,). For example, when the Clinton government
Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S 3

increased the monetary provision for the military by one hundred billion dollars in 1999, the

press articulated that it was the first actual monetary increase to the military budget since 1991. It

showed the bias and lack of objectivity of Media as a democratic force in a country dominated

by market forces in the culture of politics (McChesney). The United States media fails to

objectively articulate the other side of the story for the citizens to hear.

According to Cunningham's report, the media will not stand in for a weak opposition.

However, the Media is responsible for articulating issues far beyond war to elected leaders for

them to tackle. However, because the Media is more of a commercial corporation, it hides its

head in the sand during such times. For example, during the Augusta National Country Club's

exclusion of women members, the press remained silent about the issue from July 10th, 2002, to

March 31st. It was a clear indication of how the Media loses its focus on key fundamental issues

that affect the nation and fail to articulate such views.

According to Cunningham, the majority of reporters are biased. She asserts that the

majority of bias reporters spring from politics, where beliefs propel everything. Besides, she

claims that the hugest blind spot of America's journalism is the deficiency of socioeconomic

variety. Even though many media corporations have reporters from different races, religious

backgrounds, and gender subgroups, they all come from the same middle-class backgrounds.

There is a bias in hiring middle-class recruits compared to people who come from humble

backgrounds. Besides, reporters tend to be biased in reporting political stories and conflict

because they claim they are more interesting and safe. It means that the media in the United

States will cover political stories instead of covering stories that will benefit ordinary citizens

like corruption, crime, and social welfare (Street).

Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S 4

Also, democracy demands that citizens must be informed for them to have the ability to

make refined voting choices (Reinikk & Svensson). Generally, the media has influenced politics

throughout American history, the most prominent political debates between Hillary Clinton and

Donald Trump. Their opinions regarding security, rights of the Blacks, abortion, and women's

rights have shaped the public opinion on their leadership abilities. Majorly, the media has played

a significant role in assisting people in developing an opinion on whom to vote between the two

candidates, especially due to their opinions on significant issues listed above.

The media has included several outlets through which American citizens can receive

political information regarding the two presidential candidates; New York Times publishes most

of the information on their political prowess. Accordingly, radio and television are widely used

in reaching voters who may be undecided on the best candidate to vote in as the president.

Politicians use the other most important role of the media in politics in spreading negative

leadership qualities about their political opponents (Reinikk & Svensson, 2016). For example,

Hillary Clinton used the media to expose Donald Trump's controversial comments on women

and abuse instances. Potentially, the media influence politics in America by publishing what

news people want to hear, as well as what would make them decide the best leaders to vote for

("Denis Muller Senior Research Fellow”)

The technological and social media revolution has also led to the declining access to

politicians (Wendling et al.). It is because the politicians remain in contact with the public

through various social media sites. The media also plays a significant role as a public educator. It

also provides campaign platforms and ensures that the public is emancipated on the political

agenda of all the candidates and parties. It provides an open platform for discussion and debate

that ensures voters can educate politicians, voters, and the officials.
Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S 5

The press plays an important analytical role that improves their capability to play other

roles as forums for debate, as watchdogs, and much more—the analysis provided by the press

about the results, ground events, or opposing opinions. The Media utilizes the different tools for

analysis, including surveys, investigative journalism, expert input or opinion, and evaluation of

community views and needs. Through these activities, the media effectively emancipates the

public on the right choices (Krompak). The safety of the media property and personnel is

essential to protecting the democratic processes. The harm caused to the journalist and media

outlets may significantly affect more than just one individual.

The media has considerably been regarded as an important catalyst for the growth of the

American economy (Carpentier et al.). Studies have shown that the information provided by the

press has either positive or adverse effects. It can significantly influence an individual's attitude

and decision-making. Consumer behavior studies have shown that negative media publicity on

particular issues can result in the fluctuation of the economy (Krompak). The notion of agenda-

setting by the press is a significant factor that substantially influences economic development in

the United States. This agenda-setting role of the media refers to the ability of the press to raise

the importance of a particular issue in the public's mind.

In America, the media has reported on the different economic policies of the various

campaigns. The reports presented by the media have greatly influenced consumer confidence.

The media such as television, radio, and the newspaper have been used for centuries to advertise

goods and services, promoting the economy (Mellen). There have been various theories that have

supported the impacts of Media on economics. These media theories, such as media agenda

setting, framing, priming, and cultural theory, supports the concept of how the media can

influence the economy.

Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S 6

In past years, the Media in the United States has been greatly plagued with all kinds of

problems, including plagiarism, sliding profits, scandals about manipulation, propaganda, and

many other challenges. Most people outside the United States recognize media distortions,

omissions, inaccuracy, and partisans in the United States. These challenges have made it difficult

for the citizens to access an open view of many issues that affect the United States. In

conclusion, the media should realize that even though it benefits from federal legislation that

favors them, they are responsible for articulating transparent news to the citizens, free from bias

and objective. Media corporations should realize that they are tasked with enhancing democracy

in countries through broadcasting news, which is true and should avoid being leveraged by the

politicians or government. Once media reform is achieved, the nation's progress will be

inevitable.
Communication and Media on the Democratic crisis in the U.S 7

Work Cited

Carpentier, N., Lie, R., & Servaes, J. Community media: Muting the democratic media

discourse? Continuum, 17(1), 51-68. (2003).

Arsenault, A., & Castells, M. Switching power: Rupert Murdoch and the global business of

media politics: A sociological analysis. International Sociology, 23(4), 488-513. (2008).

Cunningham, B. Re-thinking Objectivity-In a world of spin, our awkward embrace of an ideal

can make us passive recipients of the news. Columbia Journalism Review. (2003)

Retrieved from https://archives.cjr.org/feature/rethinkingobjectivity.php

Holmes, D. Communication theory: Media, technology, and society. Sage. (2005).

Krompak, F. The Press and America: An Interpretive History of the Mass Media. American

Journalism, 5(3), 179-180. (1988). http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08821127.1988.107311668

McChesney, R. W. Rich media, poor democracy: Communication politics in dubious times. New

Press, The (2016).

Mellen, R. The Press, Paper Shortages, and Revolution in Early America. Media History, 21(1),

23-41. (2014).http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13688804.2014.98305

Reinikk, R. & Svensson, J. The Power of Information: Evidence from a Newspaper Campaign on

Quality Politics. Working Paper 3239, World Bank, Washington, D.C. (2016).

Street, J. Mass media, politics, and democracy. Macmillan International Higher Education.

(2010).

Wendling, C., Radisch, J., & Jacobzone, S. The use of social media in risk and crisis

communication (2013).