Chapter 7: The Media and Political Information

Question 1

media

Answer 1

print and digital forms of communication that convey information to large audiences

Question 2

the media’s three roles

Answer 2

1 - inform the public of current political events and issues
2 - provide a forum for politicians, candidates, and the public to debate policies and issues
3 - act as a watchdog, scrutinizing the actions of politicians and government

Question 3

principled journalism

Answer 3

reporting that involves being as impartial, accurate, and truthful as possible
*uses verfied sources, cites sources, presents multiple viewpoints

Question 4

adverserial journalism

Answer 4

form of reporting in which the media adopt a skeptical, even hostile, attitude towards government and public officials

Question 5

citizen journalism

Answer 5

news reporting or political commentary by ordianry citizens, advocay groups, and eyewitnesses often by using cell phone videos/images distributed through social media

Question 6

opinion-driven journalism

Answer 6

news reporting mixed with heavily opinionated political commentary (usually through conversations with guests)
*blurs the line between objective journalism and subjective reporting

Question 7

journalism of assertion

Answer 7

publishing or broadcasting information and opinion ASAP with minimal concern for verifying/vetting said information

Question 8

journalism of affirmation

Answer 8

the putting forth of opinion and information in line with a consumer’s preconceptions

Question 9

public broadcasting

Answer 9

television, radio, and digital media that receive partial funding from license fees and government subsidies

Question 10

media monopolies

Answer 10

when large ,often global, corporations control much of the different media types - newspapers, radio, television networks, book publishers, movie studios, etc.

Question 11

agenda setting

Answer 11

the media’s designation of some issue, event, or person as important or not important

Question 12

framing

Answer 12

the process of presenting information in a certain way to shape the audience’s understanding of that information

Question 13

priming

Answer 13

the process of calling attention to some issues, and not others, when reporting on political events and officials

Question 14

mainstream news organizations

Answer 14

organizations adhering to the principles of journalism

Question 15

partisan media

Answer 15

news organizations who mix in opinion-driven journalism with factual reporting to appeal to members of a certain political ideology

Question 16

broadcast media

Answer 16

communication methods such as radio and TV

Question 17

news aggregators

Answer 17

webisties consolidating news from many digital sources - mainstream media, partisan media, political groups governments, candidates, etc.
*helps avoid partisan/filtered news

Question 18

algorithms

Answer 18

software programs analyzing a users preferences and engagement with certain content to curate what a user sees on a certain social media platform

Question 19

filter bubble

Answer 19

online environment in which platform users are exposed to primarily opinions and information that conform to and reinforce their existing beliefs

Question 20

media echo chamber

Answer 20

user’s beliefs are amplified/reinforced through repetition inside a closed system of comms

Question 21

misinformation

Answer 21

false, inaccurate, or misleading information in the media, especially social media; often targeting political candidates and leaders

Question 22

FCC

Answer 22

federal communications commission
*regulates broadcast radion and TV
*TV/Radio stations must have FCC licenses (renewed every 5 years)
*prohibits radio/TV stations from airing explicit sexual/excretory references between 6am - 10pm
*applies only to over-the-air broadcast media

Question 23

equal time rule

Answer 23

FCC regulation
*broadcasters must provide political candidates for same office with equal opportunity to communicate their messages to the public
*under Telecom act of 1996 - during 45 days before an election - broadcasters required to make time available to candidates at lowest rate charged for that time slot

Question 24

right of rebuttal

Answer 24

requires individuals be given time to respond to personal attacks
*FCC regulation