Tuesday, November 30, 2010

What is the Significance of the First Amendment with Speech and Press?

The significance of the First Amendment with speech and the press is that it protects the freedoms of the people or companies who are exercising those freedoms. The First Amendment has created guidelines that the government uses to dictate what should and should not be protected under the Constitution. The government has also stated who has more rights under the First Amendment because of their social standing. There are people, celebrities who have in one sense given up part of their First Amendment right. People who are in the public eye most of the time have less freedoms under the First Amendment than other people who aren't in the public eye. The government has created other ways to go around the First Amendment to keep the public safe because of events that have happened in recent history. An example would be that the government is allowed to search more thoroughly for terrorists because of the tragedy of 9/11.

The First Amendment is used to protect the freedoms of writers and media companies. Media companies utilize the First Amendment to protect themselves in order to ensure that they can still have strong entertaining products, and also to rely stories about the government to the public. The First Amendment does not have any restrictions as to what is and is not acceptable from the press and authors. The government through the years has made strides to create restrictions to protect the general public from unnecessary information that may harm the general public. The First Amendment is used as a stepping stone to create many social norms in today's society in what is and is not acceptable to say in public situations.

How does mass media reflect a political system globally?


            The mass media reflects a political system globally because the information being reported is not only about one nation, but about various countries around the world.  Each country’s media is reported very differently and some countries have restrictions against certain information.  In America, we follow pre-publication censorship, which allows authorities to preview material before is it broadcasted.  It is not uncommon to find a government agent in any newsroom and anywhere else mass media messages are created.  Authoritarianism proves hardly effective because it is extremely difficult to keep information quiet for long periods of time.  There is a global organization called Freedom House in which monitors the freedom of the press throughout the world.  The organization lists forty-five nations that often prevent messages from being broadcasted to the public.  Libertarianism allows for the free flow of media and people tend to appreciate this practice more because they can take all of the information and ideas and narrow them down into their personal beliefs and opinions on different topics.  America allows the mass media to broadcast any information in order to allow serve the public’s needs.
            Other countries have difficulty with broadcasting mass media.  In Iran, the several Arab governments have attempted to ban the Al-Jazeera news channel because it applauds the West’s democracy and reform.  In India, the Quasi-government controls the Dubai Media Incorporated, which is set up to operate like a private company.  In Columbia, high drama, such as kidnapping, is popular and reporters are frequently endangered during work.  In China, the government does not allow free speech in the media and anyone who tries to speak up is immediately punished and publicly embarrassed.  To this day, most accidents still go unreported and the Chinese often try to cover stories up to avoid drama.  Each Chinese citizen is aware that the government is monitoring his or her computer.  The Chinese government works hard to limit and/or block Internet communication, especially from abroad.  Overall, countries around the world choose to broadcast different stories and information to their citizens.  Some countries choose to hide certain stories and information from society in order to prevent citizens from reacting negatively.  The mass media reflects a political system globally because it discusses different countries and the various problems, issues, concerns, and events happening in each country and how it is relevant to the rest of the world.

What is the significance of the fourth estate?


            The fourth estate is significant because it is essentially where the public receives all of its news.  The fourth estate is the press and media, and it is arguably one of the most important fields of work to be in because the news is constantly changing and people’s beliefs, emotions, and opinions are involved.  The other three estates, executive, legislative, and judicial, have to do directly with the government.  Although the fourth estate has some involvement with the government, the First Amendment allows the press to work without most government supervision.  However, under necessary conditions, the government can step in and regulate broadcasting. 
People want the truth and the press works hard as watchdogs to monitor and keep track of the government and society as a whole.  The fourth estate is extremely powerful because it chooses and delivers what news is broadcasted for everyone to see; this means that news people must be unbiased in deciding what to report and how to report it.  The media’s role in government grants each political candidate equal time, which offers each candidate the same period and rate for advertising and promoting their campaigns. 
The fourth estate needs to be aware of the public and how society might react to certain stories.  Reporters often use agenda-setting to help guide their stories.  They pull in already reported stories and elaborate on them, influencing people what to think about.  Also, the CNN effect triggers emotions and use emotional stories to connect society to the topics being discussed.  Overall, the fourth estate allows us to view different sides of reported stories as well as gather information on topics around the world.

What is the significance of the fourth estate?


The fourth estate is mass media. This term has no original date of use, but it was used by Edmund Burke a member of Parliament in 1700’s. Burke said that it is one that is more important than the others. It is believed to come from medieval times, the people were structured into classes or estates. The first being the clergy, the second was nobility, and the third being common people. After the printing press and mass media was optimized the press became the fourth. However when the U.S constitution was drafted, the government was said to not be able to interfere with the press. Thus giving the press a great amount of power, therefore becoming the fourth branch of government.

The media is significant because “it monitors other branches on behalf of the people”(381). Mass media became a watchdog of government and the country. The media as we have talked about in the past is almost everywhere. In government, there is not one aspect that media does not cover. Upfront conferences to top secrets that have been leaked, the media is there reporting to the people of our country. This is important because it gives the people power. If they people hear or see something they do not like in the media then they will set out to change what they saw.

What are some mass media effects and their impact on society?

Mass media, just like everything in our world has different effects and impacts on our society. In the book there are several different types of theories about media effects, the bullet theory, minimalist, and cumulative theory. I believe in the cumulative theory, which is that people are influenced or affected by media over a span of time. While being bombarded with media every day of our lives, it is near impossible to not be effected by it.

A major issue that most people have is influence and effects the media has on young children in our society. The majority of our children are visual learners, so by watching the TV they can be exposed to mass media and its negative effects. Sitting down and watching TV requires no social skills besides from sitting and watching the screen. This is an issue because more and more children are spending time in front of the TV and less time interacting with friends and family. This makes them lose their social skills that are vital to their lives.

Also the mass media has desensitized almost everyone to violence. Almost every day we hear about violence in movies or on TV, and it just gets old to most people. Many people have claimed that mass media made them do their violent actions. I believe that the media does cause the thoughts of violence, but it does not tell anyone to carry out that violence, those who carry out the violence they see in media are mentally unstable.

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech and press?

The founding fathers fled our country based on one thing- freedom. Religious, artistic,political and the idea of protecting self interest were strong motivators in the process of building this country. They created a set of rights to protect all of the citizens, and the first one covers your expression of speech and press. The idea that in this country, we are free to speak, think and feel what we choose is right. It is our escape from governmental tyranny, such as charge for treason or unfair imprisonment for hoping for change. This is what gives American media the power that it has. In our country, nothing but obscene material is censored. It allows for the fourth estate watch dog, and increases the honesty of our government. It allows for the invention of new ideas and trends, regardless of the governments opinion. If we were filtered, it is unlikely that america would be considered the desirable superpower that it is today.

WIthout this, we would be much more like China, North Korea etc in the sense that our ideas, movements, and freedoms would be crushed. , America would not have the image it has today, and we would have no backbone to support our ideas. The media is a medium for the voices of America-the internet and press especially. Censorship would destroy what makes this country so special. For instance, things like twitter, youtube and facebook would all be banned due to the fact that many non governmental ideas exist within it. Written publications exposing the un justices of our government would be squished, leaving the people in a cloak of dis-illusion. Freedom of the press keeps our country interesting, honest, and free.

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech and press?

With the sense of distrust in government in mind, the creators of the Constitution announced that the First Amendment would give freedoms to its people. This amendment prohibits congress from interfering with freedoms of expression. The First Amendment has become a great resource for mass media. Mass media acts like a watchdog over government with the help of the First Amendment. The amendment allows the media to channel the information to the public without being penalized. The amendment gives the mass media a voice— a way to speak out about different issues. Although there are some restrictions to the First amendment, these restrictions are for the safety of the people; like the Schenck v. United States case.

Without the First Amendment, the government would control the media. The government would choose what information is displayed to the public and shield content from the public. By eliminating the First Amendment, people would not be able to express themselves freely. This is not what our founding fathers wanted. The First Amendment gives people the right to speak and write their honest opinions.

How does mass media reflect a political system globally?

Whether it is noticeable or not, mass media greatly reflects the political system. Governments that are more libertarians emphasize the human rights and independence to mass media. On the other side are the authoritarians that are stricter about what the mass media displays. Mass Media in the United States follow along the lines of libertarians. Under the first amendment, media has the right to free speech and expression. The amendment bars the government from interfering. The way Mass Media is regulated around the globe reflects the political system within that country. For example, mass media in China is greatly controlled. The restriction occurs because of the way the political system is built. Communism in China restricts the freedom of speech within the country. The government controls the information that they want to show to the public. The government feels that linking the political system to mass media facilitates society towards a better future. Furthermore, Britain contains a system that is unique to both previous places. This system funds mass media programs but allows for full independence. The system was created to avoid private ownership. Therefore, the way that the mass media is created within a country does reflect the political system.

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech & press?

In speech and press, because of the first amendment, we are allowed to speak and write our minds freely in our blogs, tweets, wall posts, articles, etc. The first amendment “prohibits government interference in free expression, religion and individual and public protests against government policies.” Without the first amendment, the government would control what is said and written, so people would have so much less common knowledge and no one would accurately know what is happening in the world. The first amendment brings people together with a common discussion because of a common distribution of speech and written press. Most countries don’t have the first amendment or freedom of speech so people are limited. News cannot spread but also no one can freely express their feelings. The free expression provision is defined as “the First Amendment ban against government abridgment of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.”

How Does Mass Media Reflect a Political System Globally?

Mass media definitely reflects a political system and can portray them accurately or inaccurately. Mass media in the United States is different from the mass media in China or other countries. In the United States we are protected by the first amendment, so media is very open in honest. In China people are sometimes arrested and jailed because of what they put on or look at on the internet or say on tv. In the middle east, people are often made targets based on what they look at on the internet. Governments all over the globe decide what can and cannot put exposed in the media, so through the media we can assume how each political system works. Governments are dominant based on authoritarianism and libertarianism. Authoritarian governments are strict and have a more powerful effect on what is displayed in the media. Libertarian governments are more liberal and allow more free speech. When watching mass media people can almost guess what political system a country has based on the freedom or control of the media. Also, when elections roll around or a famous person is campaigning for something, they use the media: twitter, facebook, and youtube. So based on the media, people can tell what a political system is doing around the world.

How does mass media reflect a political system globally?

In our day and age, mass media is a major player in the political system. From news coverage to tweet updates, anyone can be in the know if they so choose.
When election time rolls around, there will undoubtedly be numerous repetitive ads on the main stations. Candidates reach out to the general public through forms that they know are guaranteed to have viewers.
Social networking is also a growing part in the political world. You can follow the President and other major politicians on Twitter and see what their latest policies or updates are. Also, Facebook has become a tool for networking and following the latest news and you can often find political updates there, as well.
Overall, the mass media reflects the political system everyday. Whether it be television, Internet, or radio, they are always being expressed in some form.

Fourth Estate

The fourth estate, or fourth branch, relates significantly to the watchdog theory. The press and/or the media acts as a watch dog for the government and the other three branches. Currently, we have the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches as our core. The press sees it as their duty to watch over these three branches and the government in order to avoid corruption and ensure that everything is going the way it is supposed to. Without the fourth estate, society wouldn't be nearly as involved with politics and the government as they are now.

What audience analysis measurement principles and techniques are most effective and why?

Audience analysis measurement techniques and principles are very important and effective for media companies because they allow them to learn about their audiences. There are many ways for companies to learn about their audiences. There is the survey industry, probability sampling, Quota sampling, evaluating surveys, and latter day straw polls all used for audience measurement. Companies also use many techniques for measuring audience size, which include; newspaper and magazine audits, Broadcast ratings, engagement ratings, basic tools such as interviews and people meters, Internet audience measures, multimedia measures, and mobile audience measures. Companies also measure audience reactions using techniques such as interviews and focus groups, and with new technology companies have been able to do very affective audience reaction measurements using tools like Galvanic skin checks. Media companies can also analyze their audiences by studying demographics, cohort analysis, geodemographics and psychographics.
In my opinion, even with all the new forms of audience analysis and measurement the most effective technique remains to be surveying. The surveying industry is a 5 billion dollar per year business. Clients are big corporations, political candidates, and the mass media. There are about 300 U.S companies in the survey business but the top companies are Nielsen, Arbitron, Gallup, Pew, and Harris. Surveying is very important because it helps companies determine where to place advertisements, what type of programs to run and at what times, which programs will be cancelled, and much more.

Monday, November 29, 2010

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech & press?

The significance of the First Amendment with speech and press gives us the opportunity to write blogs and speak our own opinions on different topics and issues. This is allowed because the amendment “prohibits government interference in free expression, religion and individual and public protests against government policies. Without this amendment social media would be only limited to what the government wanted. This is practiced in a few countries and it limits peoples freedom of expression. This amendment is an important one and without it we wouldn't be able to express how we feel in the media.

How does mass media reflect a poltical system globally?

Mass media is constanlty focusing on news about poltical systems globally. Today, you can find political news on pretty much any news website or blog. Since technology has become a major aspect of our lives we are able to connect with the entire world and find out information about their political situations. The way in which it reflects a political system globally depends on where the news is being produced and who its target audience is.

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech & press?

The First Amendment: “prohibits government interference in free expression, religion and individual and public protests against government policies. The significance of the First Amendment and the free expression provision is the relevance they have on the media people by giving them freedom of speech and free press clauses. The free expression provision is defined as “the First Amendment ban against government abridgment of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.” The significance of the First Amendment for the media is that they have a role in governance and they can “ensure that the government is accountable to the people.” The freedom of speech and press is important, especially for the mass media and its audiences.

What is the significance of the First Amendment with speech & press?


The First Amendment: “prohibits government interference in free expression, religion and individual and public protests against government policies. The significance of the First Amendment and the free expression provision is the relevance they have on the media people by giving them freedom of speech and free press clauses. The free expression provision is defined as “the First Amendment ban against government abridgment of freedom of speech and freedom of the press.” The significance of the First Amendment for the media is that they have a role in governance and they can “ensure that the government is accountable to the people.” The freedom of speech and press is important, especially for the mass media and its audiences.

How does mass media reflect a political system globally?

Mass media constantly reflects the political system of the country it is in. Examples of this would be in 1529 when King Henry the fifth outlawed certain publications because a lot of the ideas that the media was throwing around were considered to be treason. You can almost tell what the country will be like if you look at its mass media acceptance. Certain dictators will completely change the media in order to keep their country unaware so they may stay in power such as Fidel Castro in Cuba. However our media is made for the people to understand what is going on in our own country. However the government has been able to keep certain things from us by using censorship. Cencorship is when the government leaves certain details out in the medias news reports. It may not be that the government is lying to us but instead only that they choose to only tell us what they think is okay for us to hear. The media greatly effects the stability of ones country. If CNN came on and said that the market was dropping significantly again, most people would probably freak out and go crazy with saving money and/or investing it. When Orson Wells played the War of the Worlds on the radio everyone thought he was actually serious and it directly effected peoples lives just by listening to the media.

What is the significance of the fourth estate?

In England and France in medieval times, society was structured into classes of people called estates. The first three estates were the clergy, the nobility, and the common people. However when Johann Gutenburg invented the printing press the idea of mass-produced written words became a growing power in society. the press eventually became known as the fourth estate. Now it is known as the fourth branch of government in the United States next to the legislative, executive, and judicial branch. The reason the media, or the fourth branch of government is so important is because its most important job is to moniter the other branches on behalf of the people. The media always keeps a close eye on government and anything else important going on around us and it reports it to the people in a simple understandable way. This is why the fourth estate is sometimes called the watchdog of the people. The media is always on the side of the common people constantly informing them about what is going on in the world around them. This is why the fourth estate is so important.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

What is the significance of the fourth estate?

The media has been referred to as the "fourth estate" ever since Edmund Burke coined the phrase in the mid 1700s. Medieval societies had always been structured into estates. The first being the clergy, the second the nobility, and the third the common people. With the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg, and the emergence of mass produced word as a powerful player in society, the press became the fourth estate. The idea was that the fourth estate, the press, report on the other estates unbiasedly and with a commitment to the truth. As Burke said, "There sat a fourth estate more important by far than them all."
Edmund Burke's words are as true today as they were centuries ago. The fourth estate plays an extremely important role in society, and I think it can be argued that they play a role by far more important than them all. The fourth estate has definitely adapted since medieval times, but the concept remains the same. In 1700s England and France, there was the clergy, nobility, common people, and mass produced written word as the fourth estate. Today in the United States we have three branches of government; the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. The press may not be a formal branch of government in the US, but the republic's founders implied a role for the press with the first amendment, which led to the press in the US being informally referred to as the fourth estate. Just like in medieval times, the fourth estate in our country today is expected to monitor the other branches on behalf of the people. The fourth estate is significant because they have one of the most important jobs in society, which is keeping those who are in charge honest. By acting as a watchdog, the fourth estate is responsible for exposing any wrong doing by the government. The fourth estate plays a significant role in society because without the press acting as the fourth estate, the government would get away with a lot, and the public wouldn't know anything about it.