The Role of the Media in America

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, whereas during the period of Watergate American media and journalism had high credibility, during the 1980's and 1990's, this trend withered away. The author points out that big business has become so powerful in America over the past few decades that the media often treats it with kid gloves. The paper contends that, as a result, there has been a transformation of the role of the media from a Fourth Estate watchdog to a politically correct parrot. There has been a great deal of commercialization in the media, and many of Hollywood's elements are now seen in the media.

Table of Contents
Introduction
The Role of the Media
Politics and the Media
How Watergate Changed the Role of the Media
A New Era of Journalism
The New Role of the Media
Elements of Hollywood in the Media
The Trend of Investigative Journalism
Media Ethics
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"On June 17, 1972, police caught five men trespassing in the offices of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) in the Watergate office complex.The burglars, led by former CIA agent James McCord, were not after money or valuables. Rather, they were attempting to plant listening devices in the DNC offices. The team of burglars was part of a top-secret unit organized out of the White House by Nixon administration operative E. Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy, the director of "security" for the Committee to Re-Elect the President, Nixon's private campaign organization. Nixon told Liddy and Hunt to hire the team of burglars to track down administration leaks to the press. When the group was caught at the Watergate, the White House attempted shut down the investigation, paying Hunt, Liddy and the burglars to remain quiet."

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