Interest groups and Media

Goals: Of interest groups - The goal is that people are fighting for their cause, influence policy makers (congressmen, president, staff members, bureaucratic agencies) with information, money, and votes

Lobbying: The process for interest groups try to influence the policymakers

Amicus curiae: When an interest group writes an argument for a court case hoping to influence a judge

PAC: a non-profit organization that can raise money for political campaigns and allows interest groups to donate to campaigns

Elite theory: Only the big powerful interest groups make a difference

Pluralist theory: all interest groups make some impact on politics

Revolving door: People move between government jobs and lobbying jobs, the private sector uses these people to get connections to the government. A criticism, how lobbyists buy their influence on government

Free rider: someone who benefits from an interest group’s work but does nothing.

Agenda setting (Gatekeeper): The media controls what stories we hear and which stories we don’t

 “Fourth Branch” (Watchdog): The media is supposed to watch over the government to look for corruption

Scorekeeper: The media follows elections and campaigns and public opinion, lets us know who is winning, and the thoughts of people.

Prior restraint: Illegal, the government censors which news stories get released.

Federal Communications Commission: The government agency that watches over television and radio stations for inappropriate content

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): A law that states government agencies must release info to the media when requested.

Media ownership concentration: The media is being owned by fewer people and businesses. 

Sound bites: the oversimplification of news.

Sensationalism: Overhyping the news

Media bias: The news is onesided

Fake news: the news is made up/fabricated.