The role of the media in politics

Question 1

Give three examples of print media

Answer 1

• Broadsheet newspapers
• Tabloids
• Magazines

Question 2

What is a broadsheet newspaper?

Answer 2

Usually seen as highbrow, they deal with weighty political debates and present information in a measured, if partisan, way

Question 3

Give two examples of a broadsheet newspaper

Answer 3

• Daily Telegraph
• Guardian

Question 4

What is a tabloid?

Answer 4

Populist newspapers that focus more on sensation and entertainment

Question 5

Give two examples of a tabloid

Answer 5

• Mirror
• Daily Mail

Question 6

What is a magazine?

Answer 6

Provide an important check on politicians by reviewing their actions and policies. Political and satirical magazines can inform high-level debates, produce detailed reports on political activity and scrutinise the work of politiciians

Question 7

Give three examples of radio media

Answer 7

• News headlines
• Commercial radio
• BBC radio

Question 8

What are news healines?

Answer 8

Every news station is obliged to give regular news broadcasts, normally on the hour, which include simple, impartial and informative headlines covering the main news items of the day

Question 9

What is commercial radio?

Answer 9

A talk radio station can engage in political discussion and debate, like LBC in London

Question 10

What is BBC radio?

Answer 10

Has many platforms for political discussion, with a number of flagship political programmes where hosts interview and challenge politicians and public perceptions, as well as phone-in showws that encourage political debate

Question 11

Give four examples of TV media

Answer 11

• News broadcasts
• Party political broadcasts
• News channels
• Political programmes

Question 12

What is a news broadcast?

Answer 12

Terresterial channels are obliged to air irregular and impartial news broadcasts, which occur at a set time and for a set duration

Question 13

What are party political broadcasts?

Answer 13

5 minute broadcast slots allocated to parties at a set time. Strict regulations ensure all parties are given a fair and equal chance to influence public opinion

Question 14

What are news channels?

Answer 14

Provide 24-hour news coverage, which can drive political events by raising public awareness

Question 15

What is political programming?

Answer 15

Televised leaders’ debates, extended interviews with politicians and experts, discussion and debate over issues and public Q&A’s

Question 16

Give some reasons why the televised leaders’ debates were important in the 2010 election

Answer 16

• Raised profile of Nick Clegg
• Cameron lost vital support
• Became the ‘main event’ of the election campaign and concentrated media attention

Question 17

Give some reasons why the televised leaders’ debates were not important in the 2010 election

Answer 17

• Shifts in the polls were marginal after debates
• Don’t appear to have altered the result of the election
• Second and third debates had little impact and made few headlines

Question 18

What are all broadcasters bound to do by law?

Answer 18

Remain neutral and offer balanced reporting of election and referendum campaigns. This means they can have no intentional influence on voting behaviour

Question 19

What has the BBC been accused of?

Answer 19

A left-wing or liberal bias, although nothing has been proven or substantiated

Question 20

Why is so important that legal neutrality is imposed upon broadcast media?

Answer 20

Because research indicates that TV and radio remain the main sources of information for voters in UK general elections

Question 21

Which authority oversees televised leaders’ debates?

Answer 21

The Electoral Comission

Question 22

What do we mean when we refer to the press?

Answer 22

Mainly newspapers, but also magazines and periodicals

Question 23

What influences the political stance of a newspaper?

Answer 23

The political opinions of its powner and readership

Question 24

What do the press tend to do to political views?

Answer 24

Reflect rather than lead them

Question 25

What happened in 2017 that discredits the idea that the press has a large influence over how people vote?

Answer 25

Corbyn’s Labour party received 40% of the national vote, despite every major publication aside from the mirror opposing him

Question 26

What makes Cambridge Analytica so controversial?

Answer 26

They have used people’s personal data to target and influence them into voting in a certain way