Changes

"The media is what really runs this country" is a phrase you may have heard more than once.  The "media" refers to the small group of people to decide what appears on television and in newspapers, and to a lesser extent radio.  The internet is not considered part of the "mainstream media," because the internet is not controlled by a small group of people as television and newspapers are.

"The media is what really runs this country" is a phrase you may have heard more than once.  The "media" refers to the small group of people to decide what appears on television and in newspapers, and to a lesser extent radio.  The internet is not considered part of the "mainstream media," because the internet is not controlled by a small group of people as television and newspapers are.

The "media", strictly speaking, is a plural term but it is often used in the singular, as in "the media tells most Americans what to think." Critics of the media view it as a single entity, though it includes several different news channels and about a half-dozen major newspapers.

Who runs the media?  Not farmers, soldiers, homeschoolers, ministers, police officers or any of the average Americans who work hard every week.  Instead, the media is run by people who got their job there because they "knew somebody," and over time became powerful at a television or newspaper company.  Some you see on television, but others are executives who work behind-the-scenes.  As a group, they overwhelmingly support Democrats and liberal policies, such as abortion and government funding of leftist organizations.

Most politicians spend much of each day worrying and wondering what the media will say about them.  The media forced President Nixon to resign in 1973; the media have incited wars such as the Spanish American War; and the media completely destroyed the credibility of certain elected officials such as Vice President Dan Quayle.

 

 

Most politicians spend much of each day worrying and wondering what the media will say about them.  This is partly due to egotism -- politicians want to be cast in favorable light in the media -- but this is also due to legitimate concern about the impact of negative media statements about them.  The media forced President Nixon to resign in 1973; the media have incited wars such as the Spanish American War; and the media completely destroyed the credibility of certain elected officials such as Vice President Dan Quayle.

The media can make enormous differences in the success or failure of businesses, entertainers, and even some sports athletes.  Many people hire "publicists" to create positive media stories about them.

The media can make enormous differences in the success or failure of businesses, entertainers, and even some sports athletes.  Many people hire "publicists" to create positive media stories about them.

A politician disliked by the media has a difficult time winning an election, while a politician promoted by the media is likely to win.  When virtually every major newspaper endorsed Democrat Jim McGreevey for governor of New Jersey in 2001, then he easily defeated the more conservative, and better qualified, pro-life Republican Bret Schundler.  Why did New Jersey newspapers prefer McGreevey?  Because newspapers have liberal positions on issues like abortion and marriage, and McGreevey had those liberal views.  Later, after election, McGreevey abruptly resigned from office, but the media never admitted it made a mistake.

A politician disliked by the media has a difficult time winning an election, while a politician promoted by the media is likely to win.  When virtually every newspaper endorsed Democrat Jim McGreevey for governor of New Jersey in 2001, then he easily defeated the more conservative, and better qualified, pro-life Republican Bret Schundler.  Why did New Jersey newspapers prefer McGreevey?  Because newspapers have liberal positions on issues like abortion and other social issues, and McGreevey had those liberal views.  Later, after election, McGreevey abruptly resigned from office, but the media almost never admit they made a mistake.

The growing use of the internet is reducing the influence of television and newspapers.  Each year many American families are disconnecting their televisions, and many newspapers have been going bankrupt.  In another ten or twenty years newspapers may have lost their influences, and television may be much weaker in influence also.

The growing use of the internet is reducing the influence of television and newspapers.  Each year many American families are disconnecting their televisions, and many newspapers have been going bankrupt.  In another ten or twenty years newspapers may have lost their influence entirely, and television may be much weaker too.

Elections to the House of Representatives (congressmen) are the least influenced by the media, because there 435 different districts, too many for the centralized media to focus on.  Elections to the U.S. Senate and the presidency are strongly influenced by the media.  Accordingly, it is not surprising that elected congressmen tend to be more conservative than elected senators and presidents.

Elections to the House of Representatives (congressmen) are the least influenced by the media, because there 435 different districts, too many for the centralized media to focus on.  Elections to the U.S. Senate and the presidency are strongly influenced by the media.  Accordingly, it is not surprising that elected congressmen tend to be more conservative than elected senators and presidents.