Chapter 10 Terminology

Question 1

News

Answer 1

The news media’s version of reality, usually with an emphasis on timely, dramatic, and compelling events and developments.

Question 2

Press (news media)

Answer 2

Those print and broadcast organizations that are in the news-reporting business.

Question 3

Partisan Press

Answer 3

Newspapers and other communication media that openly support a political party and whose news in significant part follows the party line.

Question 4

Objective Journalism

Answer 4

A model of news reporting that is based on the communication of “facts” rather than opinions and that is “fair” in that it presents all sides of partisan debate.

Question 5

Signaling (signaler) Function

Answer 5

The accepted responsibility of the media to alert the public to important developments as soon as possible after they happen or are discovered.

Question 6

Agenda Setting

Answer 6

The power of the media through news coverage to focus the public’s attention and concern on particular events, problems, issues, personalities, and so on.

Question 7

Watchdog Function

Answer 7

The accepted responsibility of the media to protect the public from incompetent or corrupt officials by standing ready to expose any official who violates accepted legal, ethical, or performance standards.

Question 8

Common-carrier Function

Answer 8

The media’s function as an open channel through which political leaders can communicate with the public.

Question 9

Framing

Answer 9

The process by which a communicated message, because of its content, activates certain opinions but not others.

Question 10

Priming

Answer 10

The process by which a communicated message, because of its content, activates certain opinions but not others.

Question 11

Partisan Function

Answer 11

Efforts by media actors to influence public response to a particular party, leader, issue, or viewpoint.