8 The Media

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 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 they plan 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.