1. The Mass Media and Staying Informed

2. Two Ways To Get Informed
How the Government Informs You
How YOU Stay Informed

3. How the Government Informs You
Debates=arguments between candidates on TV
Press Releases=Information sent through news papers, the internet, or TV.

4. Public Meetings=town meetings where candidates meet their constituents
Constituents=the people a government official represents
Franking privilege=Senators and Representatives can send mail for FREE!

6. Think:
1. Name those constituents for the scenarios below.
Richard Burr is a Senator of North Carolina=
President Obama is President of the US=
Weldon City council=
2. REVIEW: What colonial region where town meetings held the most (New England, Middle, or Southern)?
3. Why do you think Senators and Representatives get to send you mail for FREE?

7. How YOU Stay Informed
Electronic Media=information sent through electronic devices
Examples: TV, internet, radio, text message
Print Media=information sent through writing
Examples: newspapers, pamphlets, letters

8. BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION= Unbiased voter guide, a printed guide that gives ONLY facts about candidates and issues and NOT opinions.

9. Think:
1. Electronic or Print (E or P)?
newspaper________radio________internet________pamphlet______
2. Where does the BEST SOURCE of political information come from? Why?
3. Between electronic and print media, which one do you think is…
faster- more accurate-
easier to access- gives the most deep and thorough coverage-

10. Political Propaganda Techniques Propaganda=information used to persuade you to do something Propaganda is always biased=get only ONE perspective _______________________________________

11. “Positive” Propaganda Techniques to BUILD YOU UP
How does this work?
My example:
Testimonial
Getting a famous person to ENDORSE (support you)
People who like them will vote for you
Plain-Folks Appeal
Saying your JUST like the people you are trying to get to vote for you
People think you can relate to them so they think you’ll make decisions that help them
Glittering Generalities
Making general, NOT SPECIFIC statements that sound nice to all political sides (Rep, Dem., or Independnet)
You can’t find anything to disagree with so you end up supporting the candidate (even if they really don’t fit you)
Bandwagon
Saying “EVERYONE” supports me, so YOU should too!
You feel “left out” or “uncool” if you don’t vote like everyone else

12. Getting a famous person to ENDORSE (support you)
Testimonial
Getting a famous person to ENDORSE (support you)

13. “Positive” Propaganda Techniques to BUILD YOU UP
How does this work?
My example:
Testimonial
Getting a famous person to ENDORSE (support you)
People who like them will vote for you

14. PLAIN FOLKS APPEAL
Saying your JUST like the people you are trying to get to vote for you Plain Folks Appeal: Hey I mow the lawn too, I’m just like you!

15. “Positive” Propaganda Techniques to BUILD YOU UP
How does this work?
My example:
Plain-Folks Appeal
Saying your JUST like the people you are trying to get to vote for you
People think you can relate to them so they think you’ll make decisions that help them

16. Obama: “The Campaign for Change”
GLITTERING GENERALITIES
Making general, NOT SPECIFIC statements that sound nice to all political sides (Rep, Dem., or Independent)
“I will solve poverty in America because I believe in hope and possibility.” Too general, no specifics.
Obama: “The Campaign for Change”

18. “Positive” Propaganda Techniques to BUILD YOU UP
How does this work?
My example:
Glittering Generalities 
Making general, NOT SPECIFIC statements that sound nice to all political sides (Rep, Dem., or Independent)
You can’t find anything to disagree with so you end up supporting the candidate (even if they really don’t fit you)

19. Saying “EVERYONE” supports me, so YOU should too!
BANDWAGON
Saying “EVERYONE” supports me, so YOU should too!

20. “Positive” Propaganda Techniques to BUILD YOU UP
How does this work?
My example:
Bandwagon
Saying “EVERYONE” supports me, so YOU should too!
You feel “left out” or “uncool” if you don’t vote like everyone else

21. “Negative” Propaganda Techniques to BRING YOUR OPPONENT DOWN
How does this work?
My example:
Name-Calling
Calling an opponent only negative things
People begin to think of your opponent as bad or incapable of leading
Card-stacking
Name-calling repeatedly so that you only show ONE side of the story
You opponent looks like he is the source of ALL problems

22. Name-Calling
Calling an opponent only negative things

23. “Negative” Propaganda Techniques to BRING YOUR OPPONENT DOWN
How does this work?
My example:
Name-Calling
Calling an opponent only negative things
People begin to think of your opponent as bad or incapable of leading

24. Name-calling repeatedly so that you only show ONE side of the story
CARD STACKING
Name-calling repeatedly so that you only show ONE side of the story

25. “Negative” Propaganda Techniques to BRING YOUR OPPONENT DOWN
How does this work?
My example:
Card-stacking
Name-calling repeatedly so that you only show ONE side of the story
You opponent looks like he is the source of ALL problems

26. The Media and It’s Effects Sensationalize=the media tends to make things more dramatic and “sensational”
Fashion critics tell Kanye West: Stick to music

28. 4. Why do you think the media sensationalizes? Why do they do this?
5. What kind of news do you hear about most often? Is it political? About celebrities? Local news? What?

29. Americans and their Media Americans are not very informed about what happens in other countries around the world, but is this the fault of Americans or the media?

30. 10. Do Americans pay more attention to political or celebrity news
10. Do Americans pay more attention to political or celebrity news? Who is in the news more, Lindsay Lohan or Joe Biden? 11. Why don’t Americans know more about the rest of the world? There are many possible answers for this!

31. IV. Political Media
The government can keep American citizens informed about politics in many ways
Press Release=the government sends information about what it is going to do to media outlets (television networks, radio networks, newspapers etc.) and the media releases the information to the public
12. Do you think it is the government’s responsibility to keep Americans informed? Why or why not?

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39. 8-(Is 2 techniques)