gov 103 2.26 agenda setting

**Function of media: **
- Tests ideas - serves as a testing ground for policy ideas.
- Influences national agenda and informs decision-makers about public sentiment.

Historical Perspective:
- Key historical figures: Thomas Jefferson believed in the marketplace of ideas, suggesting good ideas would prevail if the media was free.
- Early forms of media included local weeklies and pamphlets (e.g., Thomas Paine's "Common Sense").
- Importance during the political discourse was high, as media shaped public understanding.
Polling and Public Opinion:
- Historical belief: People in power had a high regard for public opinion (assumed the public was educated and curious about politics).
- Emergence of new models due to polling indicating a less informed public:
- Propaganda Model: This model suggested that if the public isn't critical, media can manipulate their minds (e.g., effects in Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia).
- Hypodermic Model: Suggested media messages are akin to injections that alter perceptions directly.
- Criticism: These models were later found to be incomplete as they suggested an overpowered media influence.

Minimal Effects Model:
- Proposed that the media does not have as significant an effect as assumed on shaping public opinion, based on three selectives:

Definition: Individuals tend to expose themselves to media sources that align with their existing beliefs.
Example: A student of left-leaning politics occasionally watches conservative news to understand different viewpoints, exhibiting a form of selective exposure.

Definition: Individuals interpret information in a way that supports their existing beliefs while ignoring conflicting data.
Historical Example: Ronald Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal; supporters didn't accept the reality of Reagan's lies despite overwhelming evidence.
- This selective perception can also apply to other figures, such as Bill Clinton, regarding his controversies.

Definition: Information that contradicts one's beliefs is less likely to be remembered over time.
Example: Supporters of Trump may remember criticisms of Clinton more strongly than issues related to Trump himself due to cognitive dissonance.

Definition: The mental discomfort felt when holding two contradictory beliefs or when behavior conflicts with beliefs.
Application: Example of someone downplaying negative memories of a relationship when rekindling it despite friends' warnings.

Media doesn't dictate what to think but can influence what issues are considered important (Agenda Setting).

Definition: While media may not dictate opinions, it shapes the discourse around what topics are deemed worthy of discussion.
Example: Media coverage of specific issues, such as sexual assault, prioritizes certain narratives over others according to public interest.

Definition: The media's influence in activating existing prejudices or biases when presenting news.
Example: Research showing that the portrayal of beneficiaries of welfare as Black lowers White support for welfare cuts compared to when portrayed as White.

Definition: The way in which information is presented can shape audience understanding and reactions.
Example: Different framing approaches on a community fundraiser (from being a heartwarming effort to pointing out systemic failures in healthcare accessibility).

Radical Paradigm: The media is argued to be biased towards supporting capitalism and imperialist policies.
- Example: News coverage prioritizes stories involving American lives over foreign deaths, contributing to a distorted sense of global importance.

Partisan Press Era (1800 - 1860): Newspapers openly biased towards political parties; no objective reporting.

Emphasis on sensationalism; significant wars were influenced by press coverage (Spanish-American War).

Investigative journalism aiming to expose corruption and societal issues (e.g., mental health abuses).

Emergence of objective journalism norms; increasing divide between journalists and the public.

Focus on relationships with power rather than investigative scrutiny; leads to less critical reporting on political figures.

Example: Top Gun as a portrayal of pro-American sentiment versus critiques of capitalism seen in other films.

The understanding of media's impact has evolved, shifting from simplistic models to recognizing the nuanced interaction between audience beliefs, media presentation, and societal influence. Media serves as both a reflection of and a tool for shaping public discourse.