After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

• 14.1 Summarize the development of the news business and technology.
• 14.2 Discuss the ways in which news is a consumer product and how that influences the news.
• 14.3 Explain how the news media may be considered the “fourth branch” of government as a result of its role in the collective action problem of monitoring elected leaders.
• 14.4 Identify the ways in which news is a product of politics.
• 14.5 Describe the relationship between politicians and reporters.
• 14.6 Contrast historical and contemporary politician-press relations.