Quotes:
‘I run the Daily Express for propaganda and for no other purpose’. (Lord Beaverbrook, to the Royal Commission on the Press).
‘We are dealing with a press that basically wants to do us in’. (Alistair Campbell as Labour Party Media Chief, Guardian Interview 17 Feb 1997).
‘Please will all programmes note that under no circumstances whatsoever should the allegation about the private life of Peter Mandelson be repeated or referred to on any broadcast’. (Edict issued to BBC staff, reported in the Observer 1 Nov. 1998).
Stanyer, James ‘Politics and the Media: A loss of political appetite?’ PA 55 (2) 2002
2001 revealed how difficult it is for the news media to balance their duty to provide comprehensive political coverage with their need to cater for the limited political appetite of their audience. With circulation the priority, the tabloid press has largely abandoned any serious political coverage. This point was clearly illustrated in the election campaign where it shared its readers lack of interest. With sales and rating important to the broadsheets and terrestrial broadcasters as well, they have had to tread an increasingly fine line between comprehensive coverage and overkill – with what was considered comprehensive a decade ago now seen as overkill.
- How might we evaluate the impact of the media on politics?
Political socialisation – effects of the media in forming opinions within society. Those unable to decide of their own political stance trusting the stance of tabloid press and televised media. Impact of the Sun Newspaper with highest circulation in Britain.
- Is the press biased?
Does the press have freedom of speech to dictate on media coverage of political shenanigans or is it dictated to by government? Mass media ownership (majority) by media moguls such as Rupert Murdoch influencing the coverage of key political occurrences. Bias toward own political standing.
- Is TV biased? (Should a benefactor of the Labour party be appointed Director General of the BBC)?
Greg Dyke, the Director-General of the BBC, outlined his thoughts on the future of the UK broadcasting market at the Edinburgh International Television Festival on Sunday - and called for ITV's £300m a year license payments to be scrapped.
The remarks came as Dyke explained his opinion that it is essential ITV recovers from recent weakness to sustain a "healthy" broadcasting market in the UK. He explained:
"A healthy broadcasting market in the UK needs a third gorilla alongside the BBC and Sky - and that third gorilla should be an advertiser funded, free to air television group with ITV at its heart.
"That way, you get a proper balance of influence; that way, no one player can call too many of the shots; that way, no one player is too powerful." (Sunday 24th August 2003).
- Does bias mater? Don’t the media just reinforce public opinion?
Through Political Socialisation the influence of the media bias or not has a huge impact on the persuasion of the public to vote one way or the other. The media does in general appear to reinforce public opinion but in reality it dictates the flavour of that opinion.
