Media’s Influence on Public Opinion

November 25, 2013

Objective: 1. Examine/Analyze the media’s influence on public opinion AND 2. quickly review

key concepts/terms from UNIT I and UNIT II

Main Themes from 210-222

1. Mass Media Today: explain each of the following

1. Media Event

2. GOTV

2. Define each of the following

1. Press Conference

2. Investigative Journalism

3. Print Media

4. Broadcast Media

5. FCC

6. Narrowcasting

I. Characteristics of MediaI. Characteristics of Media

1. Mediaagenda

2. Advocacy journalism>objective news

3. Linkage Institution

4. ProfitRatingsEmotional news

I. Characteristics Cont…

Characteristics Cont…

5.Selective exposure:

6.Selective perception: Blinders

7.Media (Political Socialization)

II. Types-Newspapers1. Circulation

2. Consolidation1. Competition:

2. On-line:

3. Presidential campaigns1. Horse Race

2. Topical

4. Ads

III. Types-Television1. Image and Slogans2. Concern=3. Adversarial Journalism4. Nightly News5. Cable

Portable, Personalized, Participatory

Identify 2 trends

Media’s effect on POLITICSMedia’s effect on POLITICS!!

Objective: Understand and analyze the effects of media on politics as

opposed to the media’s influence on public opinion.

II. Roles of Media-3 MAIN ROLES?

1. Gatekeeper:

2. Scorekeeper: Horse Race

3. Watchdog: Anthony Weiner, Larry Craig, Rep. Trey Radel

III. Nature of Media Influences on POLITICS

1. Candidate Images

2. Linkage1. People-MEDIA-Government

III. Nature Cont…III. Nature Cont…

3. Campaign costs-2012=6 Billion

2014=5 Billion

4. Bandwagon

-Polls

-Focus Groups http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2014/01/29/frank_luntz_focus_group_reacts_to_obamas_state_of_the_union_address.html

III. Nature of media influences…

5. White House manipulation of media:

A. Photo Ops-

B. Sound bites

C. Spin Control

(Hillary Clinton Example-Reading Assignment)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8WkMwCb9Oo Obama commercial spin

D. Staged Events

III. Media’s affect on the other 2 branches…

1. Coverage of Congress:

2. Coverage of Supreme Court

a. Appt (Obama’s two)

b. Case (Healthcare, Gay Marriage)