Chapter 7 Flashcards
what are the 3 functions of modern day media?
- providing information
- watching officials- public watchdog
- shaping the policy agenda
how does the info provided by the media affect peoples’ views?
rarely influences people with strong existing beliefs, reinforces existing opinions instead
what is the paradox of news media?
it is most likely to influence the people who pay the least attention to it
what are loud signal stories?
widely reported media stories with an unambiguous message
what is the public watchdog function of the media?
media coverage alerts the public when a problem arises in politics or society
when did the public watchdog function really begin?
Watergate
what is the policy agenda?
the issues that the media covers, the public considers important, and politicians address
how does the news media shape the policy agenda?
editors choose which stories are headlines, that politicians have to address, congress may investigate, talk shows debate, and people discuss
in what 2 ways does the news media control what issues the public cares about more in the policy agenda?
priming and framing
what is priming?
affecting public perceptions of politicians or issues by reporting on topics in ways that either enhance or diminish support
what is framing?
the way an issue is defined; every issue has many possible frames, each with a different tilt in describing the problem and highlighting solutions
what is replacing traditional media?
digital sources
what is mass media?
information and entertainment for broad popular audiences including newspapers, magazines, radio, and television
what is personal presidency?
the idea that the president has a personal link to the public; made possible by the invention of the radio, whose influence remains strong today
what is infotainment?
the blurred line between news and entertainment
what are 3 concerns about the rise of new media?
- most web-based outlets’ stories aren’t developed by traditional reporters, which leads to a loss in revenue and the possibility of cost cutting, which leads to important stories not getting covered
- important stories may get lost
- traditional media tends to include a variety of viewpoints which results in an echo-chamber of arguments
what is fake news?
the deliberate spread of falsehood or misinformation
are reporters politically biased?
even though mainstream reporters are less likely to identify as republican, multiple studies have failed to show systematic bias
what does the media actually sell?
its audience to advertisers
what is the prime directive of media outlets?
to expand their audience, so the market forces each news source towards to politics of its audience
what is most likely to deliver an audience to a news story?
drama, a narrative arc
what is investigative bias?
the transformation of the media into skeptics of powerful figures after a series of events including the civil rights movement and the Watergate scandal
what is the fairness bias?
the effort to be fair about every issue and present two sides that leads to the creation of a second side on a one sided debate
what are the 3 ways democratic governments organize their media?
- government funded outlets
- governments regulate media to ensure protection of public interest
- governments stand aside and let the market guide the media, with the assumption that private companies will give people and advertisers what they want
what is public ownership?
a situation in which media outlets are run by the government and paid for by tax dollars
what is the fairness doctrine?
an FCC regulation that required media outlets to devote equal time to opposite perspectives
how is media organized in the US?
strong watchdog tradition, near absolute freedom of the press
how did the media begin in most other nations?
with government owned stations
what type of coverage historically attracts more viewers?
wartime coverage
how does the media cover campaigns?
with DRAMA, conflict, horse race narrative
what is a sound bite?
a short audio clip usually from a politician’s speech
what do campaigns do that often attracts more media coverage?
attempt to influence or bypass media and speak directly to supporters
