How does the media connect
Canadians to their
government?
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Do some formats communicate
more effectively than others?
How do you know if you have
access to reliable, balanced
Information?
Think about it:
WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR
NEWS?
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What is included in media?
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Newspapers
Magazines
Film
Radio
TV
Internet
Books
Billboards
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What media does:
• Reports the news
• Influences our personal understanding
• Media messages are interpreted by the people who
present them
• Can influence how you think/feel about the story
• Can affect what happens with the story
• Can decide what story/whose perspective to cover
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Media and Government
• Politicians develop messages (memorable
quotes/phrases like slogans) to be portrayed about
them
• Media tries to find truth behind government
decisions
• Help in finding credible sources in the government
• Government can hold press conferences with the
media present
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Parliamentary Press Gallery
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http://www.aptn.ca/
http://www.cbc.ca/politics/
http://apf.ca/
http://www.ledevoir.com/
http://www.mingpaonews.com/
http://www.omniab.ca/
• An association of reporters who cover
decisions/actions of Canada’s government
• Has about 350 reporters from different media
establishments
• Above are some examples…
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WHY DO YOU THINK GROUPS IN
CANADA WANT MEDIA OUTLETS
THAT SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES?
HOW DO YOU THINK THE VARIETY
OF CANADA’S MEDIA AFFECT THE
WAY CANADIAN DEAL WITH ISSUES?
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Bias
• An opinion based on unchallenged
assumptions
• Media might not cover a balance of views
and perspectives
• Shows just one point of view
• Must be open minded to detect it
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How to look for bias:
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Who is the writer(s)/speaker(s)?
Do they have authority to speak about the subject?
Does the information provide facts and evidence?
Does it use stereotyping, or appeal to a fear or
emotion?
• Does it ignore any people or groups?
• How does the information fit with what you already
know?
• How could you verify the information for accuracy?
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Your turn:
• Looking at a newspaper, and online;
choose a present issue and research it on
different websites
• Look to see if there is a bias, whether they
are bringing in lots of perspectives, and
the differences in the presentation of the
topic
• You have 10 minutes
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Lobbyist
• Someone hired by a group to influence
MPs and government officials
• They register with a Commissioner of
Lobbyists so people know who they
represent
• Provide different perspectives on issues
• Must document which MP’s/officials they
meet with
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Think about it:
TO WHAT EXTENT DO
LOBBYISTS REPRESENT
CANADIANS? IN WHAT WAYS
DO THEY HELP OR HINDER
EFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT
DECISION MAKING AROUND
ISSUES?
This could be a good topic for an essay on a test… not that
this is a hint or anything….
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Questions?
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