AP US GO
Chapter 7: Media
Timothy E. Cook - Media Power and Congressional Power
SUMMARY
Main Argument:
* Cook suggests that reporters and members of Congress, both "elites" of sorts, are engaged in a mutually beneficial relationship. "Making news...has become a crucial component of making laws."
This can lead the media and government to become "detached" from the people. Cook's solution involves what he calls "the democratization of political news," and, more generally, "more participation by the people themselves in shaping the options and decisions of government."
Cook's Reasoning:
Making news has become more and more important to members and to the media.
Members use the media
-- to provide publicity to help them get reelected,
-- in actual policymaking,
-- to gain prestige and power within Congress,
-- to shape the legislative agenda as well as public opinion.
The media uses members of Congress in generating the news.
Significance:
Media dependence on Congress:
-- Good relations with Congress helps ensure inside information, but congressional staff can manipulate the translation of complex concepts into a form appropriate for TV.
-- This helps explain (a) relatively greater media attention to incumbents; and (b) the fact that, more often than not, this attention tends to be sympathetic or favorable, thereby adding to the incumbency effect.
Effect on lawmaking:
-- Bargaining, negotiation and compromise become more difficult when the press is always watching.
-- The range of perspectives and the scope of debate narrows: "Washington news gathering. . .is an interaction among elites. . .One elite reports on another elite."
QUESTIONS
1.Cook argues that:
a) Members of Congress depend on the media.
b) the media depends on members of Congress.
c) both A and B
d) the media's reporting of the news is insulated from Congressional influence.
2. Why are the media and the government “detached” from the people?
3. How does government use the media?
4. How does the media use the government?
5. How does this relationship affect lawmaking? Is it positive or negative or both?