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Chapter 10: The Media and US Politics

The Influence of the Media on Politics The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media The Media and Public Opinion The Media and Elections The Media and Governance
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Chapter Outline and Learning Objective

The Influence of the Media on Politics
LO 10.1 Outline changes in the nature and extent of the political influence of the various news media.

The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media

LO 10.2 Trace the evolution of the news media over the course of U.S. history.

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Chapter Outline and Learning Objective

The Media and Public Opinion
LO 10.3 Evaluate the medias influence on public opinion and attention.

The Media and Elections

LO 10.4 Describe the medias role in elections and the associated problems and benefits.

The Media and Governance

LO 10.5 Assess the medias relationship to governance in the United States.
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LO 10.1

The Influence of the Media on Politics

LO 10.1 Outline changes in the nature and extent of the political influence of the various news media. The Influence of the Media
The media, in particular the print media, have been called the fourth estate and the fourth branch of government. By definition, and to make money, the mass media disseminate messages to a large and often heterogeneous audience. The Internet has become a more important source of news in the United States, taking its place alongside print, radio, and television.
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LO 10.1

The Influence of the Media on Politics

The Influence of the Media on Politics

The Pervasiveness of Television The Persistence of Radio

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LO 10.1

The Influence of the Media on Politics

The Influence of the Media on Politics (cont.)

The Declining Importance of Newspapers and Newsmagazines The Growing Popularity of the Internet

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The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media

LO 10.2 Trace the evolution of the news media over the course of U.S. history.
The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media A Political Tool

LO 10.2

Financial Independence

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The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media

The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media (cont.) Objective Journalism The Impact of Broadcasting

LO 10.2

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The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media

The Changing Role of the U.S. News Media (cont.)
Investigatory Journalism Media Consolidation Regulation of the Media

LO 10.2

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The Media and Public Opinion

LO 10.3 Evaluate the medias influence on public opinion and attention.

LO 10.3

The Media and Public Opinion When dramatic events such as the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 occur, we realize televisions power to bring world events into our lives. The pervasiveness of newspapers, magazines, radio, and television confers enormous influence. For a long time, analysts argued that political leaders wielded more influence in U.S. politics than did the media.
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The Media and Public Opinion

LO 10.3

The media can also exert significant influence on public opinion.

Agenda Setting Issue Framing

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The Media and Public Opinion

LO 10.3

Are the Media Biased?

We tend to blame the media for being either too conservative or too liberal. Most U.S. news media are committed to being unbiased. One bias that does not have a partisan or ideological slant is the bias toward sensationalism.
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The Media and Public Opinion

LO 10.3

Factors That Limit Media Influence Political Socialization Selectivity

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The Media and Public Opinion

LO 10.3

Factors That Limit Media Influence (cont.) Needs Audience Fragmentation

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LO 10.3

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LO 10.3

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The Media and Elections

LO 10.4

LO 10.4 Describe the medias role in elections and the associated problems and benefits.

The Media and Elections Choice of Candidates Campaign Events

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The Media and Elections

LO 10.4

The Media and Elections (cont.) Technology Image Making and Media Consultants

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The Media and Elections

LO 10.4

Impact on Voter Choice

Personality over Substance The Horse Race Negative Advertising

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The Media and Elections

LO 10.4

Impact on Voter Choice (cont.)

Information About Issues Making a Decision Election Night Reporting

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LO 10.4

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The Media and Governance

LO 10.5 Assess the medias relationship to governance in the United States.

LO 10.5

The Media and Governance

When policies are being formulated and implemented, decision makers are at their most impressionable. Some critics contend that the medias pressuring policy makers to provide immediate answers forces them to make hasty decisions.

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The Media and Governance

LO 10.5

Political Institutions and the News Media

Presidents have become the stars of the media. Members of Congress have long sought to cultivate positive relationships with news reporters in their states and districts. The federal judiciary is the branch least dependent on the press.
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Approximately what percentage of United States households do NOT have a television?

LO 10.1

A. B. C. D.

2% 5% 15% 25%

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Approximately what percentage of United States households do NOT have a television?

LO 10.1

A. B. C. D.

2% 5% 15% 25%

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LO 10.2

Which federal agency is responsible for regulating the media? A. B. C. D. National Advertising Council Federal Media Commission Federal Communications Commission None of these

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LO 10.2

Which federal agency is responsible for regulating the media? A. B. C. D. National Advertising Council Federal Media Commission Federal Communications Commission None of these

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The party identification of most journalists is ______________________.

LO 10.3

A. B. C. D.

Democrat Republican Independent Moderate

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The party identification of most journalists is ______________________.

LO 10.3

A. B. C. D.

Democrat Republican Independent Moderate

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Media consultants _______.

LO 10.4

A. Work to enhance the image of their candidate B. Try to create a negative image of the opposing candidate C. Use focus groups to advise their candidate D. All of these

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Media consultants _______.

LO 10.4

A. Work to enhance the image of their candidate B. Try to create a negative image of the opposing candidate C. Use focus groups to advise their candidate D. All of these

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Which of these is most likely to receive negative coverage from the press?

LO 10.5

A. B. C. D.

The White House Congress The Supreme Court State Legislatures

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Which of these is most likely to receive negative coverage from the press?

LO 10.5

A. B. C. D.

The White House Congress The Supreme Court State Legislatures

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Text Credits
From Obama More Popular Abroad Than at Home, Global Image of U.S. Continues to Benefit July 2010, by Pew Global Attitudes Project. Copyright (c) 2010 by Pew Global Attitudes Project, a project of the Pew Research Center. Reprinted with permission. 286: From National Survey of the Role of Polls in Policymaking Combined Topline Results. Copyright (c) 2001 Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. Reprinted with permission. 288: From Sacred Heart University Poll on Media and Politics, compiled by Jerry Lindsay, November 2007. Copyright (c) 2007 by Sacred Heart University. Reprinted with permission. 293: From Presidential Press Conferences: The Importance and Evolution of an Enduring Forum by Martha Joynt Kumar in PRESIDENTIAL STUDIES QUARTERLY, 35(1), March 2005. Copyright (c) 2005 by John Wiley and Sons. Reprinted with permission.

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Photo Credits
276: Shannon Stapleton/Corbis 277: Jim Sulley/Wirepix/The Image Works 281: (top) Bettmann/Corbis 281: (bottom) UPI/Bettmann/Corbis 282: (top) Courtesy of Wikipedia.com/Zuma Press 282: (bottom) Philadelphia Inquirer/MCT/Landov 284: Liu Jin/AFP/Getty Images 286: Adam Rountree/AP Photo 289: (top) Rick Bowmer/AP Photo 289: (bottom) Joe Raedle/Getty Images 291: Matthew Healey/UPI/Landov 293: Mike Theiler/UPI/Landov

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