Chapter 14 Flashcards
Concentration of most research into the effects of political communication
Mostly on individuals(micro) rather than society (macro)
Voter behavior/voter turnouts
Emphasis on cognitive dimensions: framing, agenda-setting, priming and knowledge gain
Negative effects of television (news stories)
Negative political advertising and negative campaigning
Influences on political communication
The ideal Functions of mass media in a democracy
Media content
The ideal functions of mass media in a democracy (8 goals and standards)
Surveillance of events
Identify issues
Platforms for advocacy
Transmit diverse content
Scrutinize government
Provides info
Resistance to subversion
Respectful consideration
Media content
1) Political advertising
2) News stories
Media content: Political advertising
the primary form of communication between political candidates and the voting public.
Usually consumes much of the campaign budget in major political campaigns
Media content: News stories
Frames
News flaws
news stories - Frames
Abstract notions that media professionals use to present news stories in a particular way.
A central organizing idea for understanding events related to the issue in question
Influence perceptions and interpretations
news stories - News flaws (4)
Personalization
Fragmentation
Dramatization
Normalization
News flaws: personalization
The tendency for news stories to concentrate on individuals when reporting on large-scale concerns
News flaws: fragmentation
Involves the delivery of news in disconnected, brief capsule summaries
News flaws: dramatization
Whenever the news is selected on the basis of its dramatic or entertaining value rather than its importance as an issue
News flaws: normalization
Whenever news stories show how particular problems can be solved within the existing political system
Five major reasons for increased interest in political communication
Unpredictable voting behaviors
Increased societal concern for the negative effects of television
European studies attracted attention
New emphasis on cognitive dimensions
Interest in negative political advertising
Types of ads voters remember and recognize most
Negative ads
Factors influencing political media effects
Individual characteristics
Education level
Informed people
Political partisanship
Personal skepticism of media
Interest in political communication
Information processing
