POS2041 National Government Q2L8 terms

agenda setting

the media’s ability to choose which issues or topics get attention

beat

the coverage area assigned to journalists for news or stories

citizen journalism

video and print news posted to the Internet or social media by citizens rather than the news media

cultivation theory

the idea that media affect a citizen’s worldview through the information presented

digital paywall

the need for a paid subscription to access published online material

equal-time rule

an FCC policy that all candidates running for office must be given the same radio and television airtime opportunities

fairness doctrine

a 1949 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) policy, now defunct, that required holders of broadcast licenses to cover controversial issues in a balanced manner

framing

the process of giving a news story a specific context or background

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

a federal statute that requires public agencies to provide certain types of information requested by citizens

hypodermic theory

the idea that information is placed in a citizen’s brain and accepted

indecency regulations

laws that limit indecent and obscene material on public airwaves

libel

printed information about a person or organization that is not true and harms the reputation of the person or organization

mass media

the collection of all media forms that communicate information to the general public

minimal effects theory

the idea that the media have little effect on citizens

muckraking

news coverage focusing on exposing corrupt business and government practices

party press era

period during the 1780s in which newspaper content was biased by political partisanship

priming

the process of predisposing readers or viewers to think a particular way

prior restraint

a government action that stops someone from doing something before they are able to do it (e.g., forbidding someone to publish a book he or she plans to release)

public relations

biased communication intended to improve the image of people, companies, or organizations

reporter’s privilege

the right of a journalist to keep a source confidential

slander

spoken information about a person or organization that is not true and harms the reputation of the person or organization

soft news

news presented in an entertaining style

sunshine laws

laws that require government documents and proceedings to be made public

yellow journalism

sensationalized coverage of scandals and human interest stories