INFLUENCING GOVERNMENT PUBLIC OPINION, THE MEDIA, & INTEREST GROUPS

PUBLIC OPINION What is it? ideas and attitudes most hold about a particular issue/person Elected officials listen to public opinion! Why? need popular support for their decisions (in most cases) help to make timely & effective decisions What are potential results of an elected official making decisions in government that are not supported by the majority?

WHAT SHAPES PUBLIC OPINION? An Individual’s Personal Background age, gender, income, race, religion, occupation, residence, etc. Mass Media What does this include? How might access to media influence public opinion? Public Officials respect for their opinions on issues officials try to be persuasive! Interest Groups (“Pressure Groups”) a group of people who share a point of view about an issue & unite to promote it persuasion is goal! Examples of interest groups?

HOW IS PUBLIC OPINION MEASURED? 1.ANALYZING ELECTION RESULTS:  What could possibly be revealed about public opinion by interpreting election results?  For what reasons may this be an unreliable source of public opinion? 2.TAKING A PUBLIC OPINION POLL:  individual responses to surveys  random samples (approx diverse people surveyed)  pollsters: Gallup; Pew  followed by elected officials/candidates  informs their decision- making  possible negative effects of polling:  the wording of survey questions may affect survey results  politicians may try to please the public (vs. making wise decisions)

PUBLIC OPINION POLL: APPROVAL RATING OF PRESIDENT G.W. BUSH,

THE MEDIA What does it include? A print medium newspapers, magazines, books An electronic medium TV, radio, Internet The Media influences public agenda: problems & issues considered most important by the gov’t! What are some recent examples of ways by which the media has shaped our current government’s public agenda?

THE MEDIA What roles does the Media play in influencing government? 1.Shapes public agenda 2.Shapes public opinion 3.Coverage of candidates running for office  potential benefits/drawbacks for candidates? 4.Elected officials are linked to the public  means of informing the public/constituents  media may leak info. from gov’t  get public reaction 5.Watchdog role  monitors gov’t actions  helps to hold gov’t accountable

PROPAGANDA  What is propaganda?  ideas that may involve misleading messages designed to manipulate people  Who uses propaganda in the media?  political parties & candidates  interest groups  businesses/corporations  7 major propaganda strategies used in the media:

7 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES 1.The Bandwagon:  “Everyone else is doing it, so join in!” 2.Name-calling:  direct attack on another group/person  makes you question your trust in opponent 3.“Endorsement”  celebrity or reputable group gives support 4.“Stacked Cards”  reveals only one side of an issue  emphasizes the positive

7 PROPAGANDA TECHNIQUES 5. “Glittering Generality”  appeals to one’s emotions by focusing on a very general idea  “If you elect me, I will bring you peace and prosperity.” 6. “Just Plain Folks”  attempts to make connection to the common citizen 7. “Transfer”  associating symbol(s) with a product/candidate Which propaganda techniques are used in the following corporate advertisements?

MEDIA FREEDOMS & LIMITATIONS  Media Freedoms:  1 st Amendment Rights  the Media is free from prior restraint: no gov’t censorship of material before it is published  Media Limitations:  no libel: false information that is published that harms someone’s reputation  limitations to protecting media sources  regulation by FCC (Federal Communications Commission)  regulates broadcast media  heavy fines for breaking its rules

INTEREST GROUPS  What are they, again?:  organizations of people who unite to promote their ideas  Which Amendment protects interest groups?

TYPES OF INTEREST GROUPS  Economic  ex. US Chamber of Commerce  Worker  ex. AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor – Congress of Industrial Organizations)  Professional  ex. AMA (American Medical Association)  Social Groups  ex. NOW (Nat’l Org. for Women); NAACP (Nat’l Assoc. for the Advancement of Colored People)  Special Causes  ex. NRA (National Rifle Association)

INTEREST GROUPS’ INFLUENCE ON OUR GOVERNMENT  An interest group’s main goal = influence public policy  To do this…interest groups focus on influencing elections, the courts, & lawmakers.  How do they do this?  back candidates for office  raise & donate money to campaigns  PACs (Political Action Committees)  may use court cases to argue a law/gov’t policy is unconstitutional  lobby lawmakers  lobbyist = representative of an interest group or corporation  draft bills  persuade & make agreements with politicians  provide information to representatives

WHAT IS THE OPINION EXPRESSED IN EACH POLITICAL CARTOON?