Reflection Paper on Politics
Introduction
Public policy is a
tough undertaking for public administrators who are tasked with the running of
the day to day affairs of public office. It requires a complete understanding
of the factors that make a government. Since a lot has changed in U.S. public
policy in recent years, administrators will need to comprehend the similarities
and differences of network television news coverage and the 24-hour cable news
coverage, the role of the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in rule
making, and the Pentagon’s use of embedded reporters in battle zones across the
globe. The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the three factors outlined above
and how they are reflected in American public policy formulations.
The Media and Modern Public Policy
The media plays an important role in shaping modern
public policy and democratic governance. There is a growing media competition
or war between network televisions and the 24-hour news cable television.
D’Agostino (2011) argues that drastic declines have been documented in
television and print media after the introduction of contemporary media gadgets
while Baum and Kernell (1999) contend that presidents have been losing
prime-time television viewers since 1968. In essence, both media houses display
similarities and dissimilarities. At times, though not always, both have the
tendency to relay information that is biased or unsubstantiated. Mutz (2001)
sees that television has the potential to create political awareness and remain
a resource for educating society. 24-hour news cable televisions spend more
time on political events while network televisions cover broad range of issues
affecting the nation. The two are divided along political lines with some, like
MSNBC and CNN leaning towards liberal politics while others, including FOX News
value the concepts of political conservatism. FOX News commentators and its
hosts of political analysts are usually very aggressive when covering the presidency
and the White House especially when the president is a Democrat. On the other
hand, CNN and MSNBC are very supportive of the democratic system.
FCC and Rule Making
The FCC is an agency in the United States that is responsible
for regulating the vast array of media houses existing in the nation. People
tend to complain about excessive government control without giving a thought to
how life would be without a government. When large conglomerations are allowed
to buy smaller news houses, competition will diminish because bigger companies
that have the power and resources will prevail in manipulating the
dissemination of vital news. Likewise, allowing big news corporations to buy
smaller media will obstruct smaller houses from having access to the top
echelons of the nation. Powerful media corporations have the clout to influence
government policies and corrupt the decision making mechanisms of national
leaders. Consolidating media helps advance global interconnection, elevates the
level of globalization, and significantly disseminates democratic values across
the globe (McChesney, 2001).
Supporters of FCC rule making see the benefit of money
making while opponents are driven by the need to have a free press that is free
from government meddling. Smaller media often complain about the impact of
monopoly by bigger corporations who are driven by the urge to accumulate wealth
and leverage all matters pertaining to news and information. Regardless of the
continuing war between smaller and bigger media houses, the FCC has no other
option but to put regulatory measures that is to be abided by all concerned
parties.
The Pentagon and Embedded Reporters
Embedding reporters so they remain part of the
military during combat zones has been in existence since the Vietnam War. It
gained ground during the Iraqi War of 2003 when Victoria Clark, former spokesman
for Donald Rumsfeld, introduced the idea of having a large number of reporters
on the battlefield to counter enemy propaganda (Pfau, et al; 2004). Besides
countering enemy propaganda, embedded reporters tend to be of value to the
commanders on the ground since they end up reaping the benefits of the heartening
reporting that is relayed to the public back home. At times it is risky
business since reporters get entrenched in enemy territory and may at times succumb
to serious injuries and even death. According to Feinstein & Nicolson
(2005), the number of reporters becoming traumatized and ending up suffering
from and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders must not be taken lightly. The United
States armed forces, despite having the capability to strike with sheer force in
any part of the world and despite enjoying superiority over enemy forces in the
fields of technology and fire power, still, values the use of reporters in war
zones solely to advance its global resolve and strengthen its public policy. One
negative aspect of embedding reporters in the military is that news and
information may not be based on facts. Embedding reporters in hot spots is a
modern war strategy and will have effect for some time despite opposition and
criticisms. The success of embedded reporters brings to the fore the overall
ratings of the incumbent president and as well elevates the level of prestige
and dignity of the generals leading the war and the boot soldiers on guard on
the war front.
References
Feinstein, A. & Nicolson, D. (2005). Embedded Journalists in the Iraq War: Are
they at greater psychological risk? Journal
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Baum, M.A. & Kernell, M. (1999). Has cable ended
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Bosso, J., Portz, J. and Tolley, M.
(1999). American Government:
Conflict, Compromise & Citizenship. NY: Westview Press
D’Agostino, M. (2011).
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Mutz, C.D. (2001). Facilitating communication
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McChesney, R.W. (2001). Global media, neoliberalism, and
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Pfau, M. et al (2004). Embedding
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tone. Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, Vol. 81, No. 1, pp. 74-88
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