Gov Terms: chapter 8

Vocabulary flashcards defining government and media-related concepts and regulations.

Media profit motive

The desire of media companies to make money

Freedom of the press

The media's right to publish information without government censorship

Agenda setting

The media influencing which issues people think are important

Cultivation theory

The idea that long-term media exposure can influence people's view of reality

Equal-time rule

A rule that requires broadcasters to provide the same equal opportunities to political candidates

Fairness doctorate

A former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) policy that requires broadcasters to present views on controversial issues

Framing

The way media presents an issue to help influence how people understand it

Libel

A false statement made that could potentially interfere with someone's reputation negatively.

Mass media

Communication channels that reach large audiences

Mass media muckraking

Investigative journalism that exposes corruption or wrongdoing

Party press era

A period when newspapers were closely connected to political parties

Priming

Media influencing the standards people use to evaluate political leaders or issues

Prior restraint

Government action that prevents information from being published before it's released

Public relations

Communication intended to create a positive image of a person or organization

Slander

A false statement that harms someone's reputation (connected with libel)

Reporters privilege

The ability of journalists to protect confidential sources in certain situations

Soft news

News that focuses more on entertainment rather than political facts

Sunshine laws

Laws that require certain government meetings or records to be open to the public

Freedom of information act

A federal law allowing the public to request government records

Yellow journalism

Sensationalized reporting designed to attract attention