1. Media and the Construction of Public Opinion
Writing Prompts
“The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
Do you agree with the Malcolm X quote?
What role should media play in politics?
What role has the media played in politics?
How does the media act as a linkage institution?
Media and the Construction of Public Opinion

2. “Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them”
Tom Emmer's Controversial Ad
Media
“Can’t Live With Them, Can’t Live Without Them”

3. Media and the Construction of Public Opinion
Roles of the Media
Linkage Institution
Basic job of the media: inform citizens of government activities
Connect views of people to government…how?
Gatekeeper
Role of the media in influencing what subjects become national policy issues
As gatekeeper, media is able to focus people’s attention on specific issues
Through this role, the media helps set policy agenda
Issues that attract serious attention of public officials and others actively involved in politics
Examples of Media shaping policy agenda?
Plays major role in shaping public opinion
Polls, interviewing government officials, interviewing citizens, covering protests/opposition
Media and the Construction of Public Opinion

4. Roles of the Media Scorekeeper Watchdog
Track who is ahead in elections
Criticisms: Media tends to focus on the horserace aspects
Focus on the contest, sound bites, crowds at candidate rallies, NOT the issue/policy positions
Bandwagon effects
Watchdog
Closely scrutinize candidates backgrounds, activities the partake in, try to expose corruption/scandal
Investigative journalism: dig deep to uncover scandal/corruption in administration (Woodward & Watergate) 
Classic Media Speculation: John King

5. News Media In The Past Print Media 1960 Presidential Debate
TV transforms politics
Do you think people have the same trust in the media today as they did with Cronkite? Why not?
FDR & Fireside Chats

6. Cronkite Talks about Vietnam
News Media: 1960s
Walter Cronkite: Most trusted man in America
More complete coverage
Less editorializing
In 60s news coverage of executive changes with TV, Vietnam, & Watergate
More critical of Executive Branch
Cronkite Talks about Vietnam

7. News Media Today Private Control of Media
5 Media Conglomerates dominate
Time Warner
Comcast
News Corp
Vivendi Universal
Walt Disney
Less Competition
Fewer Perspectives
Making Money—Sensationalism; Bias;
Lots of papers and channels owned by chains so less competition and diversity of opinion.

8. News Media Today How has media and the news changed today?
Sources (↑Internet/Social Networks; ↓newspaper)
What stories are reported, why?
Sensationalism—Retreat from the Issues…why?
Superficial Coverage
“Entertainment”
Money making endeavor
Sound-Bite Journalism
Sound-bites getting shorter and shorter
Narrowcasting; All private conglomerates—Time Warner, Viacom, News Corp, Vivendi Universal, Walt Disney…those 5 companies control 90% of the tv media we are exposed to every day.
Daily Show Looks at Media Coverage
Daily Show Looks at Media Coverage Pt. 2
Common at the White House
Daily Show Looks at Media Coverage Pt. 3
Sensationalism Montage

9. News Media Today Bias in the Media Source of Bias:
Bias against ea. other b/c of competition.
Personal bias for or against things by anchors/reporters
Loaded Language
Source of Bias:
Narrowcasting:
Audience Appeal: Targeting Specific Demographics
Time & space constraints
Sources of info.
Print v. Broadcast Media
Irony = corporations that own broadcasting stations, magazines, & papers are large and typically conservative corporations
Is it possible for news media to be objective & independent of partisan politics?

10. On the Campaign Trail & Inside the Branches of Government
Media Coverage
On the Campaign Trail &
Inside the Branches of Government

11. Media Campaign Coverage
Candidate-Centered Political Campaigns
Less focus on the issues
Media’s Role in Candidate-Centered Campaigns…
Sound-bite journalism
Media Events/Photo Ops
Focus on day-to-day activities
Rallies, Gaffes, Scandals, Negative Ads, Media Events
Horse-Race Journalism
Emphasize how candidates stand in polls rather than where they stand on the issues

12. Campaigns and Media Events
THE PHOTO OP…
Paul Ryan Photo Op

13. Campaigns & Negative Ads
What role might Citizens United, Super PACs & 501(c)4s being playing in the increasing negativity of campaigns?
Disclose Act…Will this help?
Post-Debate Ad
Romney Negative Ad
Obama: "A Snob?“
Outrageous Negative Ad Campaign
Negative Campaign--Indianapolis Mayoral Race
Big Bird Attack Ad
Mourdock Attack Ad
47% Negative Ad
Super PAC Ad
Attack Ad: Flip Flop
Big $ Fueling Negative Ads?
Colbert Interviews Nancy Pelosi--Disclose Act

14. Coverage of Branches Sep of Powers: Exec = Easiest to cover…why?
Multiple Beats, competing for attention
Press is a weapon
Media Events
Exec = Easiest to cover…why?
1 Person at Top…Figurehead of Government
President’s use of the Bully Pulpit and Media to “set the agenda”
Congress = Hardest to cover…why?
535 Members
Who receives focus?
Judicial = Least Coverage…Why?
A growing desire to incr. coverage. Good or Bad?

15. Politicians Use of the Media
Bully Pulpit
President’s most powerful tool in setting policy agenda
What president says is important…so automatically receives coverage
Trial Balloons
Information leaked to the media by a government official/politician or candidate
Goal: See what the political reaction will be when the public hears it.
Spin
A politicians attempt to present his actions or position on a policy in a positive light
Spin Example: After each presidential debate…staff members for each side talk to media and try to explain why their side won the debate “spinning” arguments in their favor

16. Media/Review Basketball
Each team will send one representative to the table. The 2 players will stand on either side of the table/desk with the ball/paper wad resting on the middle between them. The “Host” will read a question. The players will try to be the 1st to grab the ball from the table. The player that wins the jump, gets to try to answer the question. If they miss, the other player can try to answer. If the player gets the answer correct, they get to shoot the ball from one of the 3 designated areas for 1, 2, or 3 points, assuming a made shot. That concludes the round and the next 2 players approach the table/desk.
Every person on the team must attempt the jump ball before a player can take a 2nd turn. There is no coaching from the team (i.e. no yelling out answers to the player with the ball)
The team that scores the most points will earn 3 bonus points on the Unit Exam.
Do people trust in the media today, as they did with Cronkite? Why not?