1. Media, Public Opinion, Interest Groups
CE 9a-c

2. What is public opinion?
Public opinion is how the public feels about a certain idea or person
This does not mean though that everyone agrees with this idea

3. Factors of Public Opinion
Age, gender, income, hobbies, race, religion, and occupation
Media – TV, newspapers, magazines, internet
Public Officials – try to persuade people to support their positions in issues
Impartial- having no bias
Bias- favoring one view or another
Example- Your dog is the best dog ever

4. Public Opinion Polls
These are polls on how people feel about an issue at any given moment
They measure public opinion

5. Effects of Public Opinion Polls
Political Parties and news organizations frequently take political polls and then release the results to the public
Ex. Gallup
Some feel that these polls not only measure public opinion, but also affect it
People often fail to vote since polls predict the winner weeks before the election
Voting data released before Alaska can vote

6. Public Opinion Polls

7. What is media?
Refers to various means of communication. For example, television, radio, and the newspaper are different types of media.

8. Media
Ways the media play an important role in setting the public agenda
Focusing public attention on selected issues
Offering a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated
Holding government officials accountable to the public

9. Political Ads
Best ad of all time!

10. How the government uses media
Government officials use the media to communicate with the public.
State of the Union Address

12. Lobbying
lobbying: Seeking to influence legislators to introduce or vote for or against a bill

13. How you can participate
Ways individuals influence public policy
Participating in politics (voting, campaigning, seeking office)
Expressing opinions (lobbying, demonstrating, writing letters)
Joining interest groups

14. Types of Interest Groups
Economic Interest Groups – concerned with economic issues (Chamber of Commerce)
Private Interest Groups – Promote religion, gender, ethnicity, or the environment (NAACP, NOW, Greenpeace)
Public Interest Groups – Work to benefit all of society
Single Issue- focused on only one issue (NRA)
Think Tanks- There job is to do research on issues

15. What Interest Groups do
Ways interest groups influence public policy
Identifying issues
Making political contributions
Lobbying government officials

16. Techniques Endorsement – getting famous people to support them
Stacked Cards – presenting only one side of an issue by distorting the facts
Bandwagon – convincing everyone that everyone else believes a viewpoint
Symbols – American Flag, Pledge of Allegiance
Glittering Generality – a statement that sounds good but is meaningless (return to family values)
Just Plain Folks – attempting to make people feel the candidate is like them
Name-calling – an unpleasant label for another person or group

17. Functions 1: Bring issues to the public
2: Represent concerns of specific groups
3: Support local candidates who favor their interests

18. Where they lobby Where: Local, state, and federal govt.
How: Research issues, present facts to lawmakers, perhaps testify at House or Senate committee hearings
Arouse public opinion on issues—gets people to pressure lawmakers

19. Regulations
Today most lobbyists are professional and ethical: gifts and bribes have reduced
Regulations have been made on:
Registering federal lobbyists
Time periods for ex-public officials to join interest groups
Attempts at contribution curbing

20. International Issues
International issues and events that would require policy decisions by local government officials could include the following:
Public health concerns in the event of a pandemic
Public safety in the event of an act of terrorism
Economic development policies in response to the emerging global economy
Policies to protect the environment (e.g., wildlife protection)