Democracy: Influence Flashcards
Types of media
Broadcast media, print media, new media
Broadcast media
TV and radio, must be balanced (by law)
Print media
Newspapers and news sites, is allowed to be biased
New media
Social media and blogs, can be biased
Roles of the media
Inform, educate influence
Media inform example
During the COVID 19 pandemic, the First Minister gave a daily briefing through the BBC to make sure that people were informed about the rules to keep safe
Media educate example
In the 2016 election, political parties used twitter to share their election manifestos to educate voters
Media influence example
In 2021, the Daily Mail ran headlines warning voters of the SNP and supporting the Conservatives
Methods used by the media to influence
Targeted ads, front page headlines, running debates
Targeted ads example
Younger voters were more often likely to see videos of the youngest SNP MP Mhari Black, while older voters might see videos of Boris Johnson who is liked more by older people
Front page headlines example
In 2021, the Daily Mail ran headlines warning voters against the SNP
Running debates example
Leaders debates, 2021
Ways that the media is influential, extra examples
Uncovering scandal: During COVID 19 the media repeatedly asked Nicola Sturgeon about her advisor breaking the rules and she had to quit
Running campaigns: The Daily Record ran a campaign to decriminalise drugs which the SNP later supported
Methods used by pressure groups
Letter writing, lobbying, protesting
Letter writing example
Surfers Against Sewage organised a letter writing campaign about a bottle deposit scheme which the Scottish Government announced it would support
Protesting example
After the Climate Extinction group organised protests to shut down cities and for students to walk out of class, the Scottish Government declared a climate emergency and changed some of its policies
Lobbying example
The Time for Inclusive Education (TIE) campaign won campaign of the year for their successful efforts to lobby MSPs into supporting Scotland to have the first LGBT+ inclusive education system
Reasons why people join pressure groups
They support the aims (Scrap Trident), they know they are effective (TIE), to express their political rights (fathers for justice)
