Relationship of Newsmaking and the Government

S. government activity, and this is pee's major thesis. Instead of playacting as an independent entity guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, the press has become a policy-making institution in itself. The " tidings media are not simply distinct organizations but make up a collective (singular) institution" constraining the activities of journalists. He asserts, however, that the newsworthiness media is not only an institution, but excessively governmental; "journalists are political actors" (85). They do not merely report political actions, they also directly affect policy at the highest levels. The conclusion to take out from this is that, contrary to popular belief, the American press is neither apathetic nor objective. The problems this presents are well thought out by Cook.

He puts his thesis into historical context, and chapters two and three discusses the historical study of the news media in the U.S. claiming that "far from being free from governmental involvem

ent and intervention, the evolution of the American news media has always been and continues to be intimately tied to various versions of political sponsorship, subsidization, and protection" (14).

He points out that this relationship began in the colonial era, and continues to this day in more sophisticated forms, changing from a government sponsored press to a subsidized press. For example, the media is exempt from regulations face by other industries, such as anti-trust prosecutions. Cook argues that government policies regarding the media were "designed with a presumption on the part of policymakers that the news media performed governmental and political functions and roles and needed to be assisted in doing so properly" (60).

Overall the book presents more questions than answers. Cook does offer some suggestions however regarding how to deal with the news media as a political institution in relation to immunity of the press. He suggests that perhaps instead of just analyzing and criticizing the media, "perhaps
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