Key Terms ch.10

Question 1

news

Answer 1

The news media’s version of reality, usually with an emphasis on timely, dramatic, and compelling events and developments.
p.330

An account of obtruding events, particularly those that are timely (new or unfolding developments rather than old or static ones), dramatic (striking developments rather than commonplace ones), and compelling (developments that arouse people’s emotions).

Question 2

Press

News Media

Answer 2

News and public affairs outlets, collectively. Includes broadcast networks (ABC and NPR), cable networks (CNN, FOX, MSNBC), newspapers, news magazines (Time, Newsweek), and Internet sites that provide news and commentary (drudge report, etc.)

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. (Early newspapers)

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.
p.333

Question 5

Signaling function
(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.
p.337

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. (p.338)

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 express any official who violates accepted legal, ethical, or performance standards. p.345

Question 8

common-carrier function

Answer 8

The media’s function as an open channel through which political leaders can communicate with the public. (p.343)

Question 9

framing

Answer 9

The process by which the media play up certain aspects of a situation while downplaying other aspects, thereby providing a particular interpretation of the situation. p.345

Question 10

priming

Answer 10

The process by which a communicated message, because of its content, activates certain opinions but not others. p.345

Question 11

Partisan function

Answer 11

Efforts made by media actors to influence public response to a particular party, leader, issue or viewpoint. p.347