Mass Media and Politics Study Guide

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary and concepts related to mass media and politics, providing definitions and explanations essential for understanding the material for the exam.

Surveillance

The primary function of mass media that involves reporting events and serving public or private needs.

Public Surveillance

Serves the needs of the public by providing reassurance and entertainment.

Private Surveillance

Serves the needs of individual citizens for companionship and tension relief.

Interpretation

The process of putting events into context and speculating about their future consequences.

Muckraking

Investigative journalism aimed at uncovering corruption or wrongdoings, serving as a watchdog.

Cross-media ownership

When a single company owns multiple types of media, potentially limiting democratic dialogue.

Conglomerate

A large corporation that owns multiple media enterprises along with other types of businesses.

Public Ownership

Media ownership that is free from corporate profit motives but may be seen as government propaganda.

Private Ownership

Media owned by for-profit companies, which can lead to a focus on profit over quality.

Deregulation

The relaxing of rules governing how many media outlets one company can own.

Common Carriers

Media channels that deliver compiled information rather than original reporting.

Freedom of Information Act

A law ensuring public access to government information, promoting transparency.

Prior Restraint

The suppression of information before it is published, considered a violation of free speech.

Spiral of Silence

The phenomenon whereby people refrain from expressing their opinions when they perceive they are in the minority.

Agenda Setting

The media's ability to prioritize certain issues, shaping public perception and political discourse.

Framing

The way media presents a story, influencing how the audience interprets it.

Cultivation Theory

The idea that long-term exposure to media content shapes a person's perceptions of reality.

Gotcha Journalism

A reporting style that aims to entrap news interviewees into making damaging statements.

Narcotic Theory

The concept that heavy media consumption can lead to a disconnection from real-life societal issues.

Bandwagon Effect

The tendency for people to adopt certain behaviors or beliefs because many others are doing so.

Sample Bias

Errors that occur when a sample does not accurately represent the population from which it is drawn.