The changing role of the media

Question 1

What has it traditionally been the media’s role to do?

Answer 1

• Report accurately and provide a commentary on political events
• Act as a check on and scrutinise the work of government
• Investigate controversies and bring them to public attention
• Educate the public on major issues and explain the potential impact of the various available options
• Provide a forum for debate and discussion
• Act as a bridge between the elected and the electorate

Question 2

What has the media begun to do instead of providing informed debate?

Answer 2

Mock and ridicule in a partisan way

Question 3

How has the media affected the national mood towards politics?

Answer 3

They have made it extremely cynical by focusing on scandal and corruption

Question 4

How have the media begun to present politicians?

Answer 4

As celebrities rather than civil servants with a job to do

Question 5

What have the media turned politics into?

Answer 5

Entertainment

Question 6

What is the negative consequence of the 24-hour news cycle?

Answer 6

Provides pressure to sensationalise issues, which has increased the growing negative view of government

Question 7

What has been the political consequence of the rise of online media platforms?

Answer 7

Led to partisan, uninformed debate being presented as fact, causing parties and mainstream media to lose control of the agenda. This has led to a more partisan, opinion-orientated and susceptable electorate who are more superficially aware, but less engaged with the issues

Question 8

How did the media have an influence on the 1979 election?

Answer 8

The Sun reported that James Callaghan had said ‘Crisis, what crisis?’ in response to the winter of discontent

Question 9

How can the Sun be seen as influencing the outcome of the 1979 election?

Answer 9

Made Callaghan seem out of touch with ordinary voters and swung opinion against the formerly popular PM

Question 10

How can the Sun be seen as having not much of an influence in the 1979 election?

Answer 10

Opinion polls showed Callaghan was Labour’s best asset and was generally ahead of Thatcher throughout the election campaign

Question 11

How did the media influence the 1992 election?

Answer 11

Tv pictures presented Neil Kinnock as triumphant a week before the election, alienating many and causing Labour voters to be more apathetic

Question 12

What suggests that the media did not have so much of an impact on the 1992 election?

Answer 12

It only happened a week before the election

Question 13

How did the media influence the 1997 election?

Answer 13

After a meeting between Blair and Murdoch, the sun declared support for labour, leading many to switch allegiance

Question 14

Why can it be argued that the media did not really influence the 1997 election?

Answer 14

The press was simply reacting to the prevailing mood at the time

Question 15

How did the TV debates influence the 2010 election?

Answer 15

The TV performances of Nick Clegg raised his profile at the expense of Cameron; leading to a hung parliament

Question 16

Why can the arguement be made that TV debates were not that influential in 2010?

Answer 16

The Lib Dems only increased their vote share by 1% and actually lost seats

Question 17

How did the Daily Telegraph influence the 2010 general election?

Answer 17

The expenses scandal they undercovered undermined the reputation of all MPs and led to many losing their seats and a labour government being rejected at the polls

Question 18

Why can the arguement be made that the expenses scandal was not that decisive in the 2010 election?

Answer 18

Despite the cynicism, turnout rose by 4% and Labour were set to lose anyway following the 2007-07 financial crisis

Question 19

How did the TV leaders’ debate influence the 2015 election?

Answer 19

Ed Miliband’s fall from the stage and ‘hell yes I’m tough enough’ line made him seem less prime ministerial than Cameron

Question 20

Why can it be argued that the TV leaders’ debate did not have that much of an impact on the 2015 election?

Answer 20

Opinion polls suggest it made no real difference to voting intentions, merely confirming existing impressions of the leaders

Question 21

How did the TV leaders’ debate impact influence the 2017 election?

Answer 21

May’s refusal to partcipate allowed opponents to attack her weakness. Corbyn competed better than expected in a seven person debate, leading to an increase in credibility for Labour

Question 22

Why can it be argued that the leaders’ debated were not that influential in 2017?

Answer 22

May won more votes than Cameron had in 2010 and 2015. Corbyn still lost, and third parties who performed well in debates saw no improvement in their vote share

Question 23

Why can digital advertising be seen as influential in 2019?

Answer 23

The Conservatives paid for 2,500 facebook ads compared to labour’s 250. They are form of targeted advertising that bypass current Electoral Comission regulations and may have contributed to the Conservative victory.

Question 24

Why can the arguement be made that digital advertising was not that influential in 2019?

Answer 24

The Lib Dems paid for 3,000 facebook ads. While their vote share may have increased from 2017, they lost seats, suggesting online advertising does not necessarily correlate with electoral success

Question 25

How is the nature of the media changing?

Answer 25

More people are accessing news online. Social media is being used to disseminate information, opinion and even propaganda

Question 26

What is the ‘post-truth’ era?

Answer 26

The spreading of unsubstantiated facts making it hard to differentiate between fact and fiction