How American News Media Works (6 Pics)

In the early 1980’s 50 companies owned most of the U.S. media and that includes radio, television, movies, newspapers, news feeds, books and magazines. You may think, “What? Only 50 companies get to decide what news I need to know!?” Today that number is 4.

In 1949 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented the Fairness Doctrine. This rule required broadcasters to devote some of their airtime to discussing controversial matters of public interest and to air contrasting views regarding those matters. This was to insure that the people were given all the information on an issue and allowed to draw their own conclusions. The news wasn’t about ratings. It was about the news and broadcasters were required by law to devote a set amount of time each day to delivering it.

In 1987 the FCC abolished the doctrine by a 4–0 vote saying it, “…restricts the journalistic freedom of broadcasters…” Then the Telecommunications Act of 1996 eliminated a cap on nationwide station ownership and allowed an entity to own up to 4 stations in a single market. And created the opportunity for a media monopoly. (Don’t even get me started on Radio.)

Here is the kicker 90% of the media is controlled by four conglomerates; Comcast, Disney, ViacomCBS and AT&T. (The only cable network I can think of that isn’t owned by one of the above is Fox News. It’s still controlled by the Murdoch Family.) And if they have an agenda then it can bleed through. This is one of the reasons the nation is so polarized. Instead of getting the news that’s true but maybe a little tough to swallow you can change the channel to news that better suits your sensibilities.

A light in the Dark There are four global news agencies today; Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP), Reuters and EFE have offices in most countries of the world and cover all areas of information. All four began with and continue to operate on a basic philosophy of providing a single objective news feed to all subscribers; they do not provide separate feeds for conservative or liberal newspapers. This is what people in the news call, “the wire.” And it’s used every second of every day. (I never watch the news anymore I get most of my info from Reuters then the AP. It’s pure and unadulterated. Before it hits the street and gets spun.)

How it works for the average anchor: I was the morning news guy. On air two hours a day, five days a week. It was a long time ago so maybe some things have changed. I’d come into work around 4am and the first thing I do is find out what’s up locally. Someone in the newsroom will call the PD’s liaison officers and get the skinny. Then I go check the wire and the feed. Everything that’s not local or off the wire comes to stations off the feed. NBC, ABC, CBS all have stories that their writers and editors put together in packs and can offer to their affiliates aka local news stations. (Sometimes nowadays you’re told to run certain packs. Agenda, remember?) Then I stack the stories in an order that gives it some flow and direction. I say when to cut to B-roll. (BS footage related to the story that usually doesn’t have sound. Accident? Flashing cop lights and road flares. Obesity? The backs of overweight people walking down the street and closeups of food going in mouths; that sort of thing.) And what to throw up in the Chyron (Floating picture next to my head) and when. I edit them for time and get rid of all the alliteration that some writers love and get to the meat. Then I look at the clock and see how much time we have left to air. Then I look at how much time I have left to fill. If its a slow news day I’m going straight for the network packages. They take up time and give me some breathing room. I was from a smaller market. North Texas and southeastern Oklahoma was my area. It was small so you had to do a lot of it yourself. One man band it, they would say. After the news was over I’d usually record an in studio interview or on Tuesdays a cooking segment for the next day and occasionally maybe something fun like a couple zoo animals. Then I’d get behind my (real) desk and try to find another interview or another story I could shoot tomorrow. I’d usually be home before 1 and in bed by 7. It was an interesting life experience but I wasn’t cut out for it. To be a really good news person you have to be...I dunno, invigorated? by tragedy where as I’d just get bummed out over stuff that happened locally. It was a little too visceral for me.