AP Gov—10/16/2015
 TGIF!
 Intro to the mass media lecture
 Democracy in America video
 Homework:
 Edwards pgs. 242-247
 Media project
 Current events (try to find one relating to the media/public
opinion)
Mass Media
Political Beliefs & Behaviors
Warm Up
 Where do you get your news?
 Do you tend to watch/read one program/paper or a
variety?
 How is the media different now than 10 years ago
Who are the mass media?
1.
Traditional media
a.
b.
c.
d.
2.
Newspapers
Television
Magazines
And the fears of media concentration
The “new media”
a.
b.
Examples
Characteristics
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http://www.corporations.org/media/
Media & public opinion
1.
Do the media influence public opinion?
a.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
b.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Yes
TV “personalizes” candidates
Helps set national agenda
Consumers of media can influence others
Advocacy journalism
Journalists are more liberal as a whole
Profit motive makes people less informed
No
Mass public pays little attention
Selective attention
Selective perception
Other forms of political socialization are stronger
People consume media for a variety of other reasons
Media & public opinion
1.
Impact of newspapers
a.
b.
c.
Journalists may be liberal, but publishers are
conservative
Lack of competition—one major newspaper per city
Type of coverage
Newspaper Circulation, Daily Papers, 1990-2005
1650
Number
1600
1550
1500
Numbe
1450
1400
1350
1990
1995
2000
Year
2005
Media & public opinion
Impact of television
1.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Most people get their news from television
Allied with big government? TV= an electronic throne
Decline of substantive coverage, rise of images and
slogans
Impact of “adversarial journalism?
Lack of competition
Media & public opinion
Impact of the internet
1.
a.
b.
Traditional sites vs. “Drudge” and blogs?
A wealth of information that didn’t come into play 20
years ago
Sources of Campaign News, 1992-2006
100
Television
Percent
80
Newspapers
60
Radio
40
Internet
20
Magazines
0
1992
1992
2000
Year
2004
2006
AP Gov—10/20/2015
 Grab a new current events record from the back
 Roles of the Media
 Political cartoon analysis
 Homework:
1. Media Project—now due MONDAY
2. KBAT’s
3. Ch. 6-7/Unit 2 Test Thursday
Roles of the Media
Unit 2: Political Beliefs & Behaviors
Today’s Goal
 We will understand the 3 roles of the media
 We will analyze political cartoons about media
Warm up
 In what ways does the media impact public
opinion?
 In what ways does it not?
Effects of media on politics
 Symbiotic relationship between gov’t and press
 Roles of the media:
1. GATEKEEPER
2. SCOREKEEPER
3. WATCHDOG
Roles of the Media
Gatekeeper
• Influence which
subjects are of
national importance
• Help set nat’l agenda
Scorekeeper
Watchdog
• Keep track of, and
• Scrutinize people,
help make, political
places, and events
reputations
• Example: high
importance placed on
winning Iowa caucus
• Emphasis on horse
race instead of
issues
Nature of media influences
A. Profit
B. Forum for building candidate image
C. Link between gov’t and people
D. Higher cost of campaigning
E. Candidate-centered campaigns
F. Campaign consultants
G. White House manipulation of the media
H. Negative coverage of Congress
I.
Far less coverage of SCOTUS
Political Cartoon
Analysis
Your Task
 In groups of 3-4 you will search online for political
cartoons relating to the media and its influence in
politics
 Some places to start
 Cagle’s Cartoon Carousal (Politico)
 Town Hall
 Or simply Google of “media political cartoons”/ “media
bias political cartoons”/ “President and media”
 Then you will write 3 quality analysis questions
Questions
 What role of the media is best demonstrated by
this cartoon?
 How does the cartoon show the relationship
between the media and the President?
 In what ways do the President and the White
House control the media?
Exit Ticket
 Which role of the media do you believe is most
influential? Why? Provide an example.
Effects of the media
on politics
 Symbiotic relationship: journalists need politicians,
politicians need journalists
Roles of the Media
1. Gatekeeper
2. Scorekeeper
3. Watchdog
Effects of the media on politics
1.
2.
A symbiotic relationship
Roles of the media
a.
b.
c.
3.
Gatekeeper
Scorekeeper
Watchdog
The nature of media influences
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Profit
Agenda-setting
Forum for imagery
Cost
Candidate-centered campaigns
Campaign consultants
WH manipulation of the media
Negative coverage of Congress
Far less coverage of Supreme Court than other branches