Pt 3: Chapter 10 Vocab

Question 1

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

Answer 1

Agenda setting

Question 2

The media’s function as an open channel through which political leaders can communicate with the public

Answer 2

Common carrier function

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Framing

Question 4

A media system in which audiences have such as wide range of choices that they can largely control the type of information to which they are exposed

Answer 4

High-choice media system

Question 5

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

Answer 5

news

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Objective journalism

Question 7

Efforts by media actions to influence public response to a particular party, leader, issue, or viewpoint

Answer 7

Partisan function

Question 8

Newspapers and other communication media that openly support a political party and whose news tends to follow the party line

Answer 8

Partisan press

Question 9

Print, broadcast, cable, and internet organizations that are in the news-reporting business

Answer 9

Press (news media)

Question 10

The responsibility of the media to alert the public to important developments as soon as possible after they happen or are discovered

Answer 10

Signaling (signaler) function

Question 11

The accepted responsibility of the media to protect the public from incompetent or corrupt officials by standing ready to expose any official who violates accepted legal, ethical, or performance standards

Answer 11

Watchdog function