Linkage Institutions Mass Media and Public Opinion

11/20 ● You are not turning anything in ● Take a few minutes to study for the Constructed Response before lunch

Extra Credit 1.What bill, passed in July 2013, called for strict voter ID laws in North Carolina? 2. What was the name of the former North Carolina Senator that had to drop out of the 2008 presidential race because of a sex scandal? 3. What was Boss Tweed’s job before he became a corrupt politician in NYC (hint: detail from the video clip) 4. President Barack Obama was the key speaker at the Democratic National Convention what year?

What is Mass Media? ● A medium is a means of communication o media is the plural form of the medium ● Communicating broadly to masses of people

Types of Mass Media ● Print Media o newspapers, magazines, newsletters, and books ● Electronic Media o radio, television, and the Internet ● Most media outlets are private businesses

The Media and the Public Agenda ● Public Agenda o Government problems and issues that take up the most time, money, and effort ● The media has great influence over which problems the government considers important

The Media and Covering Candidates ● Covers the campaign trail of major candidates ● Gives polls, forecasts, charts, and data about upcoming elections and candidate success or failure

The Media and Elected Officials ● Complicated relationship between media and elected officials ● “Trial Balloon” Politicians will leak information to test public reactions to proposals

The Media and the Watchdog Role ● Mass media plays the “watchdog” role over government activities ● Journalists uncover stories of waste, corruption, and government misconduct

The Media and National Security ● The government classifies information as secret and limit press coverage o Iraq War and “embedded” journalists

Regulation of Mass Media ● Freedom of the press is protected by the U.S. Constitution ● First Amendment ensures that the media is free from prior restraint o Government censorship of material before it is published

Regulating Mass Media ● Freedom of press is not unlimited ● No one is free to publish false information, known as libel ● With politicians and celebrities libel suits must prove actual malice, or evil intent ● New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964) o A libel case can only be won if it is proven that the publisher knew the material was false (reckless disregard for truth)

Regulating the Media ● Federal Communications Commission (FCC) o Regulates broadcasting o Can’t censor broadcasts, but can penalize stations that violate its rules

Public Opinion ● Public Opinion: o ideas and attitudes that most people hold about an issue or person ● Public opinion helps shape the decisions of elected officials

The Diversity of Public Opinion ● The public often holds different viewpoints on a given issue

What Influences Public Opinion? ● Personal Background o Age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation, and where you live ● The Mass Media

Measuring Public Opinion ● Public opinion polls o Individuals answer questions in a survey

Pollster ● Pollster o A specialist in poll taking that conducts polls regularly ● Pollsters use a random sample to question

The Problem with Polls ● Too concerned with pleasing the public ● Treat elections like a horse race ● May discourage voting

Formative Assessment In the following slide you will be required to take a formative assessment focused on the information you just learned. Please select the best answer for these questions. If you miss any of these questions, please go back and review the material before you move forward.

Formative Assessment Question 1 In the United States, who owns and runs most media outlets? Private Businesses The Federal Government Local Governments State Governments

Formative Assessment Question 2 Issues considered most significant by government officials are called what? Public Agenda Print media Mass media Libel

Formative Assessment Question 3 What protects the media’s ability to act freely? The First Amendment The Preamble Article III of the Constitution Fifth Amendment

Formative Assessment Question 4 Publishing false information that could potentially damage someone’s reputation is called what? Libel Censorship Prior Restraint Sabotage

Formative Assessment Question 5 Ideas and attitudes that most people hold about an issue or person, are considered what? Public Opinion Public Agenda Prior Restraint Libel

Citations (Images and references) Slide 1:. N.d. Photograph. n.p. Web. 5 Jun Slide 2: Jakeschov, Jana Graphic. n.p. Web. 14 Apr Slide 3: Cyberscooty,. Book Stack Graphic. n.p. Web. 14 Apr Slide 4: Levy, David Photograph. n.p. Web. 28 Apr Use: Code=12&more=yes&nameCnt=1 Code=12&more=yes&nameCnt=1 To make your citations. Take a look at this to see how it is done.