Your Name: Natalie Wetherell
CAS100A- Section # 207
Hillary Jones
Policy Speech
Title [Media Bias]
Introduction
I. (Attention Getter)
Have you ever flipped between two news stations and heard the same story reported differently? Or heard one story mentioned on FOXNEWS but not CNN?
II. (Audience Adaptation)
This issue may seem unimportant to all of you, but it has a great impact on our country. Biased media is a form of propaganda and does society a great injustice.
III. (Credibility statement)
As an avid news watcher and recently educated critic of the media, I have evaluated several circumstances and done extensive research on the prevalence of bias in the media.
IV. (Thesis)
Since the beginning of broadcast journalism, bias and slants have altered reports to mold the minds of the American people; today, I propose that media outlets be audited by neutral parties, and slants be eliminated, or stations held accountable for their actions.
V. (Preview of main points)
a. Problem:
“First, I will demonstrate how the media presenting stories in a biased manner and at times dispensing false information, is a problem.
b. Plan/policy:
“Second, I will present my plan to hold news agencies accountable for misrepresenting stories to the public.”
c. Cure:
“Third, I will explain how my plan will solve the problem of lies being told to the public.”
d. Cost:
“and lastly, I will evaluate the benefits to society to the cost.”
(Transition):
So how did the network news stations become more like a tabloid than a place for citizens to educate themselves on current events?
Body
I. Main point # 1: Problem.
According to economist Tyler Cohen of opposingviewpoints.com, 80-90% of reporters and broadcast journalists identify themselves as affiliated with the Democratic Party.
A. Reason this is a problem.
This is a problem because the news is controlled by people with the same opinions.
1. Evidence.
In 2004, just before the presidential election, Dan Rather eagerly relayed documents which alleged that President Bush failed to follow orders and show up for physical examinations while he was in the National Reserves. According to wikipedia.org ,these documents were taken from deceased Colonel Killian’s files and were immediately criticized as forgery. It took Rather two weeks to recant his story, but by then he already had a population of the country convinced that Bush performed poorly while he was in the Reserves.
2. Analysis.
These accusations against the president ended up being proven false and an apology was given by Rather and CBS’s president. However, the CBS audience which trusts the news the station delivers was tainted by the misinformation told about the presidential candidate.
B. Reason this is a problem
CNN and FOXNEWS have an audience of 665,000 and 1.2 million people every evening, and can have a great impact on national elections. On Election Day 2000, NBC, followed by CBS and CNN, announced former Vice President Al Gore won Florida’s electoral votes and therefore was the newly elected President of the United States ten minutes before polls were closed. This information was based on exit polls surveys done in this state.
1. This caused a ripple effect among other news stations who did not want to be the last to report election results. During the same night, CNN announced that in western Florida polls were closed just before 7 p.m. However, those polls were actually opened for another hour due to the fact that Florida crosses into two time zones. It is unknown whether or not this announcement affected the outcome of the election, but nearly 5% of Florida’s population lives in this area.
2. The mistakes made by mainstream news that night could have changed the course of history. It is unacceptable that news stations could have influenced people to not go out and vote because the results were already decided. An analysis of the mistakes made by CNN on the Election Day were written by Joan Konner of StanfordUniversity.
(Transition)
How can this complicated problem be fixed without infringing on freedom of speech as promised in the Bill of Rights?
II. Main point # 2: Plan/Policy
A. how plan/policy will be implemented.
My goal is to stop the media from influencing the minds of Americans by manipulating the facts presented. I would suggest creating a neutral committee that rated the trustworthiness of the various news stations. Ratings would be on a simple 1-5 scale, the network with the least credibility receiving a one star rating.
1. With networks being held accountable for the facts and stories they relay, CEOs would be more likely to check their facts instead of being in constant competition with other networks to be the fastest to release breaking news.
1. details
B. how plan/policy will be administered.
This plan would be overseen by a media analyst appointed by members of Federal Communications Commission.
1. I also recommend punishment for libel and slander to be stricter, and the judicial system be more favorable to individual citizens and less to large media corporations.
2. details
C. how plan/policy will be funded.
This policy will be funded the FCC.
1. The FCC, as stated on fcc.gov has a current budget of 300 million dollars and could increase revenue with an additional tax on news stations.
D. how plan/policy will be enforced
This plan would be enforced by news stations themselves. Because of a desire for a good rating by the FCC, CEOs would be motivated to keep their news reliable.
1. Higher ratings mean more money, and news networks are businesses whose greatest interest is earning a profit.
2. details
(Transition)
III. Main point # 3: Cure: how plan/policy solves the problem
A. How plan/policy will solve problem reason A – from main point I.
1. Evidence
As mentioned in speeches over the past few days, a rating of NC-17 is a death sentence for movies. I believe this correlation could be made for news as well.
2. Analysis
If a news station were deemed unreliable by the FCC, the audience would decrease. Unreliable reporting and unauthentic news reports such as the one delivered by Dan Rather would be frowned upon by the FCC and the public would be made aware of this grievance.
B. How plan/policy will solve problem reason B – from main point I..
1. Evidence
The FCC would also intimidate news stations into double checking facts to present the most accurate information, instead of engaging in a rat race to be the first to nationalize a late breaking story.
2. Analysis
This would make for more reliable reporting and less pressure amongst anchors and network executives.
(Transition)
Real, unbiased, honest news is best for all.
IV. Main point # 4: Cost/benefit Analysis
A. Where funding will come from
1. Evidence
With the FCC’s enormous budget and a slight tax on news stations, the American people not be burdened financially with this plan.
2. Analysis
Instead, the American citizens would receive news they can trust.
B. Benefits of the plan/policy
1. Evidence
Americans would be better educated and not used as pawns in political games.
2. Analysis
This system would promote democracy by eliminating a form of propaganda.
(Transition)
Don’t be fooled, media bias is not a new trend.
Conclusion.
I. Restate thesis
As stated in the New York Times, during the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the media was accused of being biased over the New Deal. Accusations against media bias haven’t stopped since the 1930s.
II. (Review main points)
A. Problem
The media impacts societies view on issues, and its only fair the information be factual.
B. Plan/policy
I hope this injustice can be corrected by pressure from the FCC for higher ratings.
C. Cure
D. Cost
III. (When to clap line)
We have been conditioned to be a star rated society. Youtube videos, hotels, restrauants, consumer products and movies. Why not make news media organizations and outlets tow the line. Isn't it time we rated our news information for quality?
Bibliography
In alphabetical order
In APA style
(2007, August 8). Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Federal Communications Commission: www.fcc.gov
Cohen, T. (2005). Media Bias Is Not A Serious Problem. Retrieved August 7, 2007, from Opposing Viewpoints:
Nunberg, G. (2003, November 9). The Nation: Who Knew?; It's Not Just the Media. These Days, Everydbody's Biased..
The New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2007, from
http://www.nytimes.com
Directions for whole outline
(parentheses) means to label these parts
Also label in the body and conclusion of the speech
Credibility (CR)
Audience Adaptation (AA)
Emotional Appeals (EA)
Include source citations written in your outline.
Turn in two complete sentence outlines and two copies of bibliography
Dear Natalie, I really like how you had a credibility statement in the beginning of your outline and you labeled it that. I also really liked how you have directions for you outline, it makes your outline very organized and easy to understand. I'm really looking forward to hearing you do your speech today!-Kelsie(After your speech) Good Job today!! I thought that you had really good eye contact, and I could tell that you had researched your topic because you had really good information that was well supported. The only thing for next time that you could work on would be to take down your visual aid after a little bit because I could feel myself looking at the powerpoint more than I was focusing on you. But other than that you did really good!
Natty :) I think you have very good supporting evidence for all throughout your speech and it is organized well! looks like you are all set! -- Aimee
Natalie... Great job on your speech today. The supporting evidence was great and the visual aid was effective. I would only recommend that you show more emotion in your voice and perhaps use hand gestures maybe? Great Job though-Ryan S
Natalie - i thought your visual were very professional looking and very well done. I realy liked your policy of trying to get al the news stations to tell the same news and to make sure it was the real. -Matt
Natalie, I liked your attention getter. You also obviously researched, good job! -Lisa
Natalie, you did well by starting the speech with your purpose right off the bat. I also couldln't think of a better example to use than the 2000 election when it comes to media bias. Good job. - Joe
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