AP Gov-Media Unit

Muckraking

Journalists uncovering political corruption in their writing

Freedom of Press

found in 1st amendment

Yellow Journalism

journalists exaggerating details of events for increased sales in late 1800s

Priming

the media’s influence on how people evaluate issues through how they present it to people

Framing

the practice of selecting specific words to shape a story (like words that prompt a specific emotion)

Fairness Doctrine

Congress requires broadcast network news to provide a balanced presentation of perspectives on public issues (later abandoned by FCC)

Selective Exposure

the tendency of an individual to seek out info that reinforces their preexisting beliefs and avoiding contradictory information (algorithim makes this worse)

Confirmation Bias

human tendency to favor information in support of ones personal views

Civil Discourse

ability to share perspectives in a balanced and respectful way

Ideological Silos

occur when people only surround themselves with people with similar views

Media

linkage institution for information that shapes political knowledge

Types of Media Chronologically

Print, broadcast, subscription, digital

Cult of personality

building following based on personhood (like JFK)

FCC

Regulates public broadcasts

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

NPR and PBS have government funding

U.S. agency for global media

US gov independent agency that broadcasts news and info (arm of US diplomacy)

Horserace media

how media covers campaigns—care about most popular/winning “horse”

Agenda Setting/Gatekeeper

media deciding what issues get coverage which influences what public cares about, therefore setting political agendas

Persuasion

power of media to influence how audiences should think about a topic or issue

Investigative Journalism