The Media

What is Mass Media?

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

What role does the media play in Accountability?

The media provides a check on those in power, often referred to as 'The Fourth Estate' or 'The Fourth Branch'.

How does media contribute to Political Knowledge?

The vast majority of political knowledge is learned through the media.

What is Agenda Setting in media?

The process of deciding what issues the public should pay attention to based on what is mentioned and discussed.

Give an example of Agenda Setting.

Highlighting child poverty.

What is a Media Diet?

The news sources a person consumes on a daily basis.

Define Framing in the context of media.

The process by which people develop a particular conceptualization of an issue by altering its meaning through presentation.

What are News Deserts?

Regions in the U.S. that include few to no local news sources.

How does media contribute to Polarization?

Media plays a role in sustaining polarization through partisan media and algorithmic social media.

What are Closed Information Loops?

Information environments where one loop caters specifically to a political ideology, restricting other perspectives.

How do algorithms in social media affect user content?

Algorithms tailor content based on user engagement, potentially increasing polarization if polarizing content boosts engagement.

What has changed in U.S. Political Media since the 1990s?

Political media transitioned from local monopolies to competing with diverse entertainment options due to the rise of the internet.

What are Media Effects?

The influence of media on public opinion, including agenda setting and framing.

Who owns ABC News?

ABC News is owned by Disney since 1996.

When was CNN founded and who owns it?

CNN was founded in 1980 and is owned by Warner Brothers.

What political stance does Fox News represent?

Fox News is a conservative network fiercely supporting the Republican party and Trump.

What is the ownership structure of MSNBC?

MSNBC is owned by NBC and Comcast and is a liberal-leaning network.

What type of network is NPR?

NPR is an American public broadcasting network funded partly by the government and donations.

Who owns the New York Times?

The New York Times is self-owned by the paper and is considered liberal-leaning.

What is the Wall Street Journal known for?

The Wall Street Journal is a conservative, free market-oriented newspaper.

Who founded The Washington Post and when?

The Washington Post was founded in 1877.

Who owns The Washington Post currently?

The Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.

What is ideological interests in media?

The preferred biases or perspectives reflected in media content based on ownership and economic interests.

What does partisan media contribute to?

Partisan media contributes to the creation of closed information loops.

How does framing affect public perception?

Framing alters the meaning of an issue, guiding how it is interpreted by the public.

What are some culprits of media polarization?

Partisan media, algorithmic social media, and the decline of broad national newspapers.

What is required for news stations as per law in the past?

Stations were required to only broadcast news due to limited options for viewers.

What phenomenon causes the decline in newspaper readership?

Competition from the internet and cable TV led to a sharp decline in newspaper readership and revenues.

What influences the type of content shown to users on social media?

Engagement with specific types of content influences algorithms to show more of that content.

What is the effect of partisan media on information consumption?

Partisan media often leads to the reinforcement of existing biases in information interpretation.

Who is Rupert Murdoch?

The owner of Fox News, which is a conservative media outlet.

What was a common goal of news organizations in the past?

To appeal to the broadest possible audience without angering advertisers.

How are media effects measured?

Media effects can be measured through the number of mentions, framing, labeling, and key word usage.

What is the impact of news organizations on politically engaged voters?

Today, many news organizations cater to a small, dedicated audience of politically engaged voters.

What shift occurred in news consumption patterns?

Older audiences, more politically engaged, tend to continue following traditional news sources.

What does the term 'Algorithmic Social Media' refer to?

It refers to social media platforms that use algorithms to show personalized content to users.

How does the media shape political discourse?

The media shapes political discourse through agenda setting and framing of key issues.

Why is it important to understand media ownership?

Understanding media ownership can provide insight into potential biases and influences in news reporting.

What can be a significant consequence of media effects?

Media effects can significantly influence public opinion and perceptions of political issues.

In what ways does media consumption change with age?

Older individuals tend to maintain traditional media consumption patterns, while younger demographics often shift to digital platforms.