ROLE OF MEDIA

Public opinion– The public sphere is a place where society discusses the issues that affect everyone.

Public Agenda – The public agenda is a list of issues that much of society agrees are a priority.

Public Policy – Public Policy is the stand a government takes on an issue.

DEFINE THESE TERMS

Types of Media

TelevisionNewspaper

InternetCell phones

Radio

THE MEDIATHE MEDIA IS THE SOURCE OF OUR NEWS AND

INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS.

The Media The media is the source of our news and information about current events.

Gatekeeper – The media

decides which stories and

issues do and do not receive attention.

GATEKEEPER

Business- Media will cover

stories that will get them

viewers because they are funded by commercial

advertising.

MEDIA AS BUSINESS

Bias – media may report

some stories more than

others or their stories may be more liberal or conservative

BIAS

Agenda Setter – Due to the

media’s role as a gatekeeper, they influence which issues

become part of the public sphere and

public agenda.

AGENDA SETTER

Watchdog – The media plays the role of a

watchdog alerting the public where there are

issues of concern related to the

government and others in power. In this role, the media

also allows the public to watch and be aware.

WATCHDOG

The Impact of the Media on Government –

1. The media can bring to light issues within the government to inform the public.

2. The media can also focus on stories, which can impact the issues the government chooses to

focus on.

3. They have a large impact on the government due to their watchdog role.

IMPACT

Watchdog: Alerts the people if government is doing something

wrongAgenda Setter: Decides what

issues government will work to fixGatekeeper: decides what issues

are important

MEDIA’S INFLUENCE

• Media as a Watchdog• Media as a Business• Media as a

Gatekeeper• Media as biased• Media as agenda

setter

1. The media begins reporting about a disgusting-looking

ingredient found in many common foods. Soon

everyone is talking about the ingredient. People begin signing petitions, and soon there is a major movement to convince the government

to outlaw the ingredient.

EXAMPLES

• Media as

agenda setter

• Media as a Watchdog• Media as a Business• Media as a

Gatekeeper• Media as biased• Media as agenda

setter

2. Two hundred people rally in the street to

protest a city’s decision to cut bus

transportation. Instead of covering that event,

the evening news runs a story about the mayor’s

plan to build a new park.

EXAMPLES

• Media as Gatekee

per

• Media as a Watchdog• Media as a Business• Media as a

Gatekeeper• Media as biased• Media as agenda

setter

3. A politician accepts expensive gifts from a campaign supporter.

Two television networks run hour-long exposés about

the politician’s bad behavior. The politician

returns the gifts and resigns from office.

EXAMPLES

• Media as a

watchdog

• Media as a Watchdog• Media as a Business• Media as a

Gatekeeper• Media as biased• Media as agenda

setter

4. A newspaper loses several advertising accounts after

sales are down.The paper decides to put crime stories on the front

page and movestories about government to

page 2. Sales go up, and advertisers

begin buying more ad space in the newspaper.

EXAMPLES

• Media as a

business

• Media as a Watchdog• Media as a Business• Media as a

Gatekeeper• Media as biased• Media as agenda

setter

5. Two presidential candidates give speeches in a city on the same day.

One local newspaper features a photo of the Republican candidate

with the front page story. The other local paper runs

a photo of theDemocratic candidate.

EXAMPLES

• Media as

biased

B. U.S. soldiers rebuild school in war zone

E. Navy tests new submarine missile

D. Successful airstrike destroys terrorist hideout

C. U.S. sends aid to Pakistan flood victims

F. Cambodian students visit U.S. sister city

A. Jet stream carries China’s pollution to U.S.

A. Health clinic will close due to budget cuts

B. Pilot: Snake popped out of dashboard mid-air

C. Community garden builds 30 new plots

D. Monkey escapes during gas station stop

F. County food banks running dangerously low

E. Waitress attacked after wrong order, cops say

Looms

• “The media” only refers to television.

• (F)

• In its role as gatekeeper, the media decides which stories to run.

• (T)

• A “sound bite” is a story designed to expose wrongdoing.

• (F)

• Most news sources are not for profit.

• (F)

• Biased means favoring one view over another.

• (T)

• About half of all human beings are completely unbiased.

• (F)

T/F

• Bias can affect what stories a media outlet decides are important.

• (T)

• An issue can’t get on the public agenda if nobody has heard about it.

• (T)

• Everyone agrees the media should play the role of agenda-setter.

• (F)

• If you watch television news, you will hear about all the issues that exist.

• (F)

• In its role as watchdog, the media decides which issues need public action.

• (F)

• Thanks to the media’s influence, people don’t need to pay attention to what’s going on.

• (F)

T/F