The Mass Media

Question 1

medium/media

Answer 1

means of communication

Question 2

mass media

Answer 2

newspapers, radio, tv, and the Internet that can reach wide audiences

Question 3

key functions of mass media

Answer 3

1. entertainment
2. news reports
3. creation of political forums

Question 4

entertainment

Answer 4

popular programs continue; lower ratings = cancelled

Question 5

news reports

Answer 5

• reported political news since 18th century
• ex) Federalist Papers reported on the ratification of the Constitution
• radio and tv

Question 6

creation of political forums

Answer 6

• politicians use these to promote careers and draw attention to issues
• president has direct access; able to use it to set up policy agenda

Question 7

How does the mass media serve as linkage institutions?

Answer 7

• connect people to govt bc interview citizens, present poll results, and cover protests
• interviews leaders and reports on govt committees and programs

Question 8

most influential newspapers

Answer 8

NYTimes, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal

Question 9

What do newspapers rely on?

Answer 9

• Associated Press news agency for national and international stories
• circulation rates declined

Question 10

most influential magazines

Answer 10

• Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report

- circulation rates declined

Question 11

first great use of radio

Answer 11

• FDR had “fireside chats” to reassure American people and discuss New Deal
• now little political talk

Question 12

major radio hosts

Answer 12

conservative: Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh
liberal: Thom Hartmann and Rachel Maddow

Question 13

first great use of tv

Answer 13

1960 presidential debates between Senator JFK and VP Richard Nixon

Question 14

major networks of tv

Answer 14

used to be: NBC, CBS, and ABC

now: CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC

Question 15

main websites on internet

Answer 15

• Politico.com and Huffington Post

- web blogs

Question 16

agenda setting

Answer 16

• policy agenda consists of issues that attract the serious attention of public officials
• mass media plays important role in drawing attention to issues

Question 17

In what way did the mass media contribute to candidate-centered political campaigns?

Answer 17

• replaced speeches and dialogues with sound bites that average just 7.8 sec
• focuses on rallies, gaffes, scandals, and negative commercials
• “horse-race journalism” - where candidates stand in the polls, not on issues