VII - Mass Media & Public Agenda Flashcards
Types of media
Digital/ Electronic
Print media examples
Newspapers
Magazines
Journals
Digital/ Electronic media examples
TV Social media Internet Podcast Blogs
Various forms of media provide citizens with
Political information
Various forms of media can influence the ways in which citizens
participate politically
Media & political socialization
Media contributes to development of an individual’s political attitudes & values
Media is a type of
linkage institution
Franklin Roosevelt
Changed the game in relationship between Presidency and media
Rise of radio in 1920’s led to Fireside Chats due to disability
1960 Presidential election
Rise of TV ownership in the 1950’s
JFK vs Nixon 1st televised Presidential debate
Credibility gap appeared due to
Vietnam War
Watergate scandal
Rise of investigative journalism
Bill Clinton’s affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky
Increasing focus on politicians personal lives
New phases in media & politics
Cable television(80’s)
Internet(90’s)
Social media
24 hours news cycle
Campaigning has increased reliance on
Social media
Print media
Has been on the decline
New communication technologies & advances in social media have profoundly influenced how citizens routinely acquire
Political information News events Investigative journalism Election coverage Political commentary
Broadcast
Used by 1st networks in hope of reaching and appealing to a broad range of audience
Narrowcasting
Programming targeting a specific, narrow interest
Rise of cable TV led to
specialized channels
Ongoing debate about gov’t regulation of
electronic media
Congress created the
Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
Intended to regulate the use of airwaves
Seeks to prevent monopolies
Stations must serve public interests
Fair treatment rule
If station sells advertising to one candidate, it must be willing to sell it to other candidates running for office
In spite of advancedment in media & increased media choices, most news coverage lacks
Substance
Sound bites
Short news clips intended to promote the lengthier version
Bias
Certain perspective is advocated or advanced
Ideologically oriented programming
One idelogy is promoted over the other
Media ownership
Few companies owns the majority of media companies
Rise of fake news has led to
Uncertainty over credibility of news sources & information
Trial balons
When information is intentionally leaked in order to gauge the political reaction
Talking heads
Political commentators on the news
Adversarial press
Media is suspicious of gov’t officials, seeks to expose lies and/or negative stories
Watchdog function of the press
AKA “Fourth estate”
watchdog journalists gather information about wrongdoings of people in power and deliver it to the public
Public’s views about politicians & public policy is influenced by media
Attention/coverage given to certain candidates or certain stories, policies, or problems
Mistakes and negative media coverage can sink a
Campaign
Changes in communication technology has changed president’s relationship with
National constituency and other branches
Technology politics
Rapid response to political issues
Rise of social media for campaigning & fundraising
Nationally broadcast State of the Union messages
Media events
Politicians & interest groups can bring issues to the public
Media plays an important role in setting the
policy agenda
Interest groups can promote and advance causes that they find
important
