Unit 5 Part III Interest Groups and Mass Media

What is public opinion? The ideas and attitudes that people hold about an issue or person The ideas and attitudes that people hold about an issue or person

What influences Public Opinion? Personal Background – age, gender, income, race, religion, and where you live Personal Background – age, gender, income, race, religion, and where you live Mass Media – TV, internet, books, newspapers, radio, movies Mass Media – TV, internet, books, newspapers, radio, movies Public Officials – political leaders and government officials Public Officials – political leaders and government officials Interest Groups – work to persuade people to their point of view Interest Groups – work to persuade people to their point of view

How is public opinion measured? Election results Election results Public Opinion Poll – survey of individuals beliefs about particular issue or person Public Opinion Poll – survey of individuals beliefs about particular issue or person

What do we mean by the term Mass Media Methods of mass communication Methods of mass communication

What are forms of mass media? Print media – books, magazines, newspapers Print media – books, magazines, newspapers Electronic media – TV, radio, internet Electronic media – TV, radio, internet

What determines what news items are shown by the mass media? What will attract the most viewers in order to make a profit What will attract the most viewers in order to make a profit

What is the public agenda? The issues and problems that receive the most money, time and effort from the government The issues and problems that receive the most money, time and effort from the government

How does mass media affect the public agenda? Have effect on what the public thinks is important Have effect on what the public thinks is important

What other roles does mass media serve? Candidates for office Candidates for office –Give candidates exposure to run for office –Give candidates idea of what the public is concerned about Test public reaction: Politicians sometimes leak (secretly pass on info) to gage how the public will react Test public reaction: Politicians sometimes leak (secretly pass on info) to gage how the public will react Watchdog Role – expose government waste and corruption Watchdog Role – expose government waste and corruption

What protects the media from censorship? Amendment I – protects the press from prior restraint – censorship of material before it is published Amendment I – protects the press from prior restraint – censorship of material before it is published

What limits are there on the freedom of the press? Libel – cannot print false info that will harm someone Libel – cannot print false info that will harm someone Slander – cannot speak untruths that harm someone Slander – cannot speak untruths that harm someone FCC – regulate broadcasting and can punish stations that break rules FCC – regulate broadcasting and can punish stations that break rules

What are interest groups? A group of people who who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs A group of people who who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs

Why do people join interest groups? People believe that by joining together they can increase their influence People believe that by joining together they can increase their influence

What protects the right of people to join interest groups? The First Amendments freedom of assembly The First Amendments freedom of assembly

Private Interest Groups Economic Interest Groups: Economic Interest Groups: Focus on economic issues Focus on economic issues US Chamber of Commerce – promotes free enterprise US Chamber of Commerce – promotes free enterprise AFL-CIO – alliance of labor unions that fight for workers rights AFL-CIO – alliance of labor unions that fight for workers rights AMA – American Medical Association: represents doctors AMA – American Medical Association: represents doctors

Special Interest Groups Promote a ethnic group, age, gender, religion or other special issue Promote a ethnic group, age, gender, religion or other special issue

NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People National Association for the Advancement of Colored People

NOW National Organization of Women National Organization of Women

AARP American Association of Retired People American Association of Retired People

NRA National Rifle Association National Rifle Association

Public Interest Groups Support causes that affect the lives of Americans in general Support causes that affect the lives of Americans in general

League of Women Voters Educates voters about candidates and issues Educates voters about candidates and issues

MADD Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Mothers Against Drunk Drivers

In what ways do interest groups try and influence the government? By forming PAC’s – political action committees to raise money for candidates By forming PAC’s – political action committees to raise money for candidates Going to court – taking cases to court to bring attention to them Going to court – taking cases to court to bring attention to them By hiring lobbyists – specialists who try to influence lawmakers By hiring lobbyists – specialists who try to influence lawmakers

What protects the rights of interest groups to try and influence government decisions? The first amendments freedom to petition The first amendments freedom to petition