Political Science Exam 5

What is Mass Media?

Media intended for public audiences (newspapers, TV)

The internet allowed anyone to produce media, news sites, blogs, podcasts (and mass emails or tweets with a broad audience).

What is Private Media?

Private media is any media outlet whose financing is provided by individuals or private groups.

(motivated by profit)

What is Press?

People and organizations who produce media

What are the 3 roles that media plays in a democracy?

Providing Information (what is happening in the world)

Evaluating and interpreting events (placing events in context)

Solving collective dilemmas (press can help prioritize problems)

Priming

the psychological process of shaping people's perceptions of a particular issue, figure, or policy

Framing

the way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments.

Gatekeeping bias

What is covered and not covered

Coverage bias

What aspects of a story recieves the most attention

Statement bias

Opinions added to factual statements

Equal Time Rule

if one candidate is given air time, their opponent must be offered equal time (ads for example) -- there are many exceptions including news programs

Fairness Doctrine (1949)

(No longer in effect) required balanced political coverage until 1987 (news covering)

Prior Restraint

government action that prohibits speech or other expression before the speech happens.

Censorship

the suppression of words, images, or ideas that are "offensive"

(can be carried out by government as well as private groups)

Which amendment generally protects content of media and prevent "censorship" or "prior restraint"

The 1st Amendment

Media Profit Motive

getting the biggest audience is the objective

Significance of New York Journal and Sinking of Maine story (1898)

The journal stated that a Spanish Mine sank the USS Maine (over 260 dead), and it was not an accident. This journal post was the leading cause to the outbreak of the Spanish-American War.

What was the Penny Press (1833)

the term used to describe the revolutionary business tactic of producing newspapers which sold for one cent

(mass production of inexpensive newspapers following the invention of steam-powered printing)

Which decades did Network Television dominate new media?

1950s and 1960s

Those with _________ (more/less) interest in politics have much __________ (more/ less) political knowledge now than they did in the past

more, more

More interest in politics = more political knowledge now

Those with primary interests other than politics have _________ (more/less) political knowledge now than they did in the past

less

Less interest in politics = less political knowledge now than the past

Trends of Newspapers

Morning publications dominate because the public works, used primarily before 2000s.

mass media trends

computerized, digital starting the 2000s

mass media

Television, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, and other means of popular communication.