Journalism 453

Media and Politics

Political Science 419

Research in American Politics: Political Communication

Winter 2002 Betty Winfield: winfieldb@missouri.edu

2:00-5:00 Wednesday James Endersby: endersby@missouri.edu

Walter Williams 112

Course Objectives:

This political communication seminar examines the relationships of the presidency, the American mass media, and the free expression clauses of the First Amendment. The administration of Harry S Truman of Missouri was a ‘transitional presidency,’ particularly for issues pertaining to government-press relations. The Truman era serves as the focal point for research conducted for this seminar.

“Congress shall make no law…abridging freedom of speech, or of the press….” This short phrase provides the basis for the relationship between the government and the mass media. Individual presidents have been at odds with the First Amendment since its inception. Twentieth Century scholars still argue over whether these words prohibit seditious libel as well as prior restraint. Since 1919, the Supreme Court has taken an active role in the interpretation of the free press provision of the First Amendment.

A popular government entails links between the governed and the governors. Thus, free expression has a democratic purpose. The American mass media have been the communications link between what happens in the presidency and the citizenry as well as a watchdog for accountability. The current technology is changing that relationship to some extent.

Each segment of the triangle of the presidency, the mass media, and the First Amendment has a special role. For representative government, the public needs to know what the president and the administration are doing. Yet at the same time the president needs public support for approval of his efforts and programs. The American mass media, while proclaiming to be independent of government, cannot be so; they must have access to information in order to perform the functions of relaying information and serving as a watchdog.

Thus, this seminar explores whether the American mass media should be characterized as a watchdog or an attack dog, as well as secrecy in a democratic society, White House news management, the news process, the uses of technology for information, crisis communication, images and reality, election campaigns, “gotcha” journalism in an age of scandal, and the original intent of the free expression clauses of the First Amendment to the Constitution. The class will offer current topical areas with theoretical and historical examples.

In this class, students will gain knowledge about the American presidency and the mass media as well as some of their continual conflict. Current examples will be applied. Issues concern an over-zealous press, mass media accountability and expectations, presidential duties and character as the nation gears up for the 2000 election.

As a case study, students in Missouri will look in depth at the 33^rd President, Harry S Truman, his administration, and the mass media of that era, 1945-1953. The nearby Truman Library as well as the Western Historical Manuscript collection in Ellis Library, the Missouri State Historical Society, and the web offer a chance to examine original documents. The Truman years had the Cold War and the Korean War, a post-war economy, integration of the military, what many observers saw as a doomed election in 1948, and a press who recalled the Franklin Roosevelt years.

Course Requirements:

All readings should be completed by the date indicated on the syllabus, and students should be prepared to discuss the topic and the literature during that class session. Students are required to write weekly short (1-2-page) papers addressing an important theoretical or substantive issue raised in the readings or discussions. Questions will be given for each of these short papers. Short papers must be completed by the Wednesday shown on the course outline below. Each student must complete at least nine of the eleven short assignments, and writing assignments for weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 9 must be completed. In addition, each student will provide a summary of one other book and present its findings to the class. We will begin with these presentations (approximately one a week) beginning with week 6. A short outline or paper regarding the book should be distributed to all class participants.

The chief requirement for the course is a research paper (approximately 20 pages in length) which extends knowledge of presidential communications beyond the assigned readings. The research paper must consist of original research based on relations between the Truman Administration and the mass media. These final projects must be part of an integrated whole, a seminal seminar work on Truman and the press. These final papers should contain sufficient quality as to result in a scholarly publication.

Each student will present research findings on either May 1 or 8, and each student should provide several copies of draft papers on May 1. Three of these draft papers will be distributed to other students for peer review (and another for the instructors). Each student is then responsible for reading and providing positive criticism for improvement of three other papers. Peer review comments are due by May 8, the last class meeting, and will be distributed to authors. The final, revised manuscript should be submitted to instructors on Monday, May 13, for the final grade. Instructors will provide authors with comments at a later date.

All work must be completed to pass the course. Final course grades will be based on participation (30%), short papers (30%), and the research paper (40%).

Textbooks for Purchase:

Links to resources publicly available on the world wide web are accessible from the electronic version of this page (available from http://www.missouri.edu/~polsjwe).

Graber, Doris A., ed. 2000. Media Power in Politics, 4^th ed. Washington: CQ Press.

Kernell, Samuel. 1997. Going Public, 3^rd ed. Washington: CQ Press.

Paletz, David L. 2001. The Media in American Politics: Contents and Consequences. 2^nd ed. New York: Addison-Wesley.

Honesty

Your work must be your own; any instances of academic dishonesty will be dealt with according to the rules of each department and the University of Missouri. You must cite and credit those words and ideas not your own from whatever source you use, including those on the internet. Please speak with one of the professors if you have any questions here.

Academic honesty is fundamental to the activities and principles of a university. Each student’s work must be responsibly and honorably acquired, developed, and presented. Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Any examination, paper, or assignment tainted by academic dishonesty will automatically receive a grade of F. University regulations also require reporting of incidents of academic dishonesty, which may lead to probation or expulsion.

Special Needs

If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and need assistance, please notify one of the professors as soon as possible. Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate these needs. Students with disabilities who request academic accommodations must register with Disability Services, A048 Brady Commons, 882-4696.

Instructor Contact Information

Course Outline and Reading Assignments:

Assigned readings include entire article or book unless otherwise shown. Some weeks require the choice of one of several books; students must choose books at least one week in advance. Bullets denote written assignments. Italics identify changes in locales, tours, and presentations.

Jan. 23	Introduction & Organization James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, The Federalist, Nos. 10, 67-77 and 84 Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America, book 1, chapters 11 and 15: “Freedom of the Press in the United States” and “Omnipotence of the Majority in the United States and Its Efforts”
Jan. 30	Week 2: Development of the Presidency as an Institution Stephen Skowronek, 1993, The Politics Presidents Make: Leadership from John Adams to Bill Clinton, chapters 1-3, 8, afterword, and one other to be selected and assigned • Discuss recurrent and emergent patterns of presidential leadership of your assigned presidency.
Feb. 6	Week 3: Power and the Presidency Kernell, chapters 1-2 Richard Neustadt, 1990, Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents: The Politics of Leadership from Roosevelt to Reagan, chapters 3, 6 (parts 3 and 4) James David Barber, 1985, The Presidential Character: Predicting Performance in the White House, 3^rd ed., chapters 1,10 • How might the authors define presidential power and how does it relate to the mass media?
Feb. 13	Week 4: Harry S Truman One of the following (to be assigned): David McCullough, 1992, Truman Robert H. Ferrell, ed., 1980, The Autobiography of Harry S Truman Robert J. Donovon, 1996 [1977], Conflict and Crisis: The Presidency of Harry S. Truman, 1945-1948 Michael J. Hogan, 1998, A Cross of Iron: Harry S. Truman and the Origins of the National Security State, 1945-1954 Robert H. Ferrell, ed., 1994, Choosing Truman: The Democratic Convention of 1944 Francis H. Thompson, 1979, The Frustration of Politics: Truman, Congress, and the Loyalty Issue, 1945-1953 Margaret Truman, 1972, Harry S Truman Robert H. Ferrell, 1994, Harry S. Truman: A Life Bert Cochran, 1973, Harry Truman and the Crisis Presidency Alonzo L. Hamby, 1995, Man of the People: A life of Harry S. Truman Harry S Truman, 1955-1956, Memoirs (2 volumes: 1. Year of Decisions, 2. Years of Trial and Hope) Donald R. McCoy, 1984, The Presidency of Harry S. Truman Donald R. McCoy and Richard T. Ruetten, 1973, Quest and Response: Minority Rights and the Truman Administration Karen Toombs Parsons, 1992, Reassessing the Truman Presidency: An Analysis of Executive-Legislative Relations from 1945-52 (MU dissertation) Barton J. Bernstein and Allan J. Matusow, 1966, The Truman Administration: A Documentary History Paul G. Pierpaoli, Jr., 1999, Truman and Korea: The Political Culture of the Early Cold War Maeva Marcus, 1977, Truman and the Steel Seizure Case: The Limits of Presidential Power Gary A. Donaldson, 1999, Truman Defeats Dewey Kenneth W. Thompson, ed., 1984, The Truman Presidency: Intimate Perspectives Cabell Phillips, 1966, The Truman Presidency: The History of a Triumphant Succession Athan Theoharis, 1979, The Truman Presidency: The Origins of the Imperial Presidency and the National Security State Harold F. Gosnell, 1980, Truman’s Crises: A Political Biography of Harry S. Truman Robert J. Donovan, 1996 [1982], Tumultuous Years: The Presidency of Harry S Truman, 1949-1953 Harold I. Gullan, 1998, The Upset that Wasn’t: Harry S. Truman and the Crucial Election of 1948 Herbert Lee Williams, 1984, The Newspaperman’s President: Harry S. Truman Jonathan Daniels, 1998 [1950], The Man from Independence Robert H. Ferrell, Harry S Truman and the Modern Presidency Ken Hechler, 1996 [1982], Working with Truman: A Personal Memoir of the White House Years • Outline biography relevant to Truman and the press for distribution to other students. Choose your research paper topic and justify your selection (tentative title and a long paragraph of description).
Feb. 20	Week 5: Original Sources: Truman and the Press Franklin D. Mitchell, 1998, Harry S Truman and the News Media: Contentious Relations, Belated Respect Betty Houchin Winfield, 1990, FDR and the News Media, chapters 1,12 Look at: Dennis Merrill, 1995, Documentary History of the Truman Presidency (20 volumes) Seminar will be held at the Truman Presidential Library, Independence, MO • Short paper on relating Mitchell to your topic • Conduct web and (electronic) library search of material related to your topic
Feb. 27	Week 6: The Media and Their Effects on Democracy Paletz, chapters 1-4 Graber, chapters 1-6 Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697 (1931) New York Times v. U.S., 403 U.S. 713 (1971), a.k.a. Pentagon Papers case U.S. v. Nixon, 418 U.S. 683 (1974) Freedom of Information Act New York Times v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254 (1964) • Explain why Presidents do not sue for libel. or • When and how can Presidents use prior restraint? or • Who controls the media in the U.S.?
Mar. 6	Week 7: Media Effects, Coverage, and Agenda-Setting Paletz, chapters 5-8 Graber, chapters 7-12 Tour(s) of Western Historical Manuscripts, and the State Historical Society of Missouri • How much media effect—minimal, medium, or maximum? or • Who sets the public agenda?
Mar. 20	Week 8: Presidential Campaign Communications: Images and Symbols Paletz, chapters 9-10 Graber, chapters 13-18 • What becomes salient as news during presidential election campaigns?
March 20	Week 9: Presidents and Public Communications Kernell, chapters 3-8 Fred Smoller, 1986, “The Six O’Clock Presidency,” Presidential Studies Quarterly 16(1): 31-49 Michael J. Towle, 1997, “On Behalf of the President,” Presidential Studies Quarterly 27(2): 297-320 Paletz, chapter 12 Graber, chapters 19-20 • How does the White House influence media attention and news coverage?
March 27	Spring Break: No Class
April 3	Week 10: News from Other Political Institutions Paletz, chapters 11, 13-14 Graber, chapters 21-24 • Compare and contrast the President’s ability to control media attention and coverage with that of other federal policymakers.
April 10	Week 11: Domestic Policy Paletz, chapter 15 Graber, chapters 25, 28-29, 31, 33, 36 Anthony Downs, 1972, “Up and Down with Ecology—‘The Issue Attention Cycle,’” Public Interest 28 (Summer): 38-50. • Why does the President’s control of the policy agenda seem illusory?
April 17	Week 12: Foreign Policy and Crises Graber, chapters 26-27, 32, 34-35 Betty Houchin Winfield, “Two Commanders in Chief: Free Expression’s Most Severe Test,” Shorenstein research paper Stephen Livingston and Todd Eachus, 1995, “Humanitarian Crisis and U.S. Foreign Policy: Somalia and the CNN Effect Reconsidered,” Political Communication 12 (4): 413-429. Schenck v. U.S. 249 U.S. 47 (1919) • How do relationships between the press and the White House change during a crisis?
April 24	Week 13: Research and Writing
May 1	Week 14: Original Research 1 Presentation of Draft Papers, Part 1 • Draft Paper Due
May 8	Week 15: Original Research 2 Read Draft Manuscripts Presentation of Draft Papers, Part 2 • Peer Review Comments Due, Distributed to Writers
May 13	Final Research Paper Due • Final paper submitted will receive a course grade. Instructors will give comments on each paper later.

Optional Readings (for book review):

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, 1996, Packaging the Presidency: A History and Criticism of Presidential Campaign Advertising, 3^rd ed.

Stephen Ansolabehere and Shanto Iyengar, 1995, Going Negative: How Attack Ads Shrink and Polarize the Electorate

Jeffrey Tulis, 1987, The Rhetorical Presidency

Roderick Hart, 1987, The Sound of Leadership : Presidential Communication in the Modern Age

Carol Gelderman, 1997, All the President’s Words: The Bully Pulpit and the Creation of the Virtual Presidency

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, 1988, Eloquence in an Electronic Age: The Transformation of Presidential Speechmaking

Thomas Patterson, 1993, Out of Order

Kiku Adatto, 1993, Picture Perfect: The Art and Artifice of Public Image Making

Montague Kern, Patricia W. Levering, Ralph B. Levering, 1983, The Kennedy Crises: the Press, the Presidency, and Foreign Policy

Herbert J. Gans, 1979, Deciding What’s News: A Study of CBS Evening News, NBC Nightly News, Newsweek, and Time

James Fallows, 1996, Breaking the News: How the Media Undermine Democracy

Larry Sabato, 1991, Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism has Transformed American Politics

Daniel Hallin, 1994, We Keep America on Top of the World: Television Journalism and the Public Sphere (or Uncensored War--Vietnam?)

John Anthony Maltese, 1992, Spin Control: The White House Office of Communications and the Management of Presidential News

Fred W. Friendly, 1981, Minnesota Rag: The Dramatic Story of the Landmark Supreme Court Case that Gave New Meaning to Freedom of the Press

Anthony Lewis, 1991, Make No Law: The Sullivan Case and the First Amendment

W. Lance Bennett, 2001, News: The Politics of Illusion, 4^th ed.

Timothy E. Cook, 1998, Governing with the News: The News Media as a Political Institution

Michael Baruch Grossman and Martha Joynt Kumar, 1981, Portraying the President

Or another book approved by the instructors.