Week 2/3 - Media Structures

Question 1

What was the last transformative era in political communication?

Answer 1

The emergence of the television in the med-twentieth century. It changed how politicians communicate, how political events are reported, and how audiences consume political news

Question 2

What is the difference between web 1.0 and web 2.0?

Answer 2

Web 1.0 - citizens had opportunities to become content creators but the one-way flow of political info persisted on websites
Web 2.0 - two-way communication via online forums, blogs, social networking, microblogging, and smartphone

Question 3

Communications by Canadian political institutions

Answer 3

• every political communication action is directly or indirectly geared toward citizens
• negative elections ads are not as persuasive as their sponsors think they are
• social media used by mainstream parties

Question 4

Canadian New Coverage of Politics

Answer 4

• reduced media availability of PM
• priorities of voters depend on what media focuses on
• frames help citizens understand how social issues should be addressed with public policy initiatives but can also withhold certain info

Question 5

Political Communication and Canadian Citizens

Answer 5

• non-profits are yet to effectively use social media

- political blogs independent media, and citizen journalism initiatives are gaining followers and readers

Question 6

The Practice of Political Communication in Canada

Answer 6

• preference in Canadian politics for research data to be used to inform communications decision
• parties’ databases hold electorate info
• parties use media for own purposes rather than the broader democratic good
• databases increase ability of parties to communicate directly with interested citizens

Question 7

What does the media influence?

Answer 7

its political, economic and dependent on changing technologies