1 / 38

Understanding the Role of Media in U.S. Politics: Learning Objectives and Key Concepts

This course equips students with the ability to analyze and critique political events in the U.S. government. Key topics include the role of informal institutions, particularly the media, in shaping public policy and political priorities. Students will explore agenda-setting, gatekeeping, and the media's impact on political information dissemination. The course also discusses the decline of traditional media and the evolving landscape of political coverage. Office hours for personal engagement with the instructor are provided.

hedwig
Télécharger la présentation

Understanding the Role of Media in U.S. Politics: Learning Objectives and Key Concepts

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. The Media 11/30/2011

  2. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government • students will be able to identify and explain the role of  informal institutions and their effect on policy. 

  3. Office Hours and Readings • Pp 130-151 • Office Hours • Thursday 8-12 • Monday 8-10:30

  4. The Media and Politics

  5. The Role of the Media • Is an informal institution • Is a linkage institution • It is profit driven

  6. What The Media Does: Reports The News • The basic function • Giving news and information • The 24 Hour News Cycle

  7. What the Media Does: Agenda Setting • What is it • Bring Matters to the forefront, or conceal them

  8. Goals of Agenda Setting • Make people aware of issues • Make issue salient • Set the priority of issues

  9. Gatekeepers • Key people who control what we watch • Help to shape political priorities • Driven by profit

  10. What gatekeepers use • The authority of the source • The Amount of Controversy • The importance

  11. Providing us with political information

  12. Where we get Political Information

  13. The Type of Media Matters • Television is the most important • The internet is the fastest, but has the most bias

  14. We Would Rather Watch Mistakes • Bad Sushi • People Falling

  15. Newspapers and Magazines • Newspapers • Provide more information and Detail • Very few cities have multiple papers anymore • Magazines- vary in content and quality

  16. The Decline of Old media

  17. Does the media really matter The Minimal Effects Model

  18. The Minimal Effects Model • The Fall Campaign is not that important • Most people have made up their mind

  19. Spurious/Minimal effects model • We do not seek out political information • We have selective/exposure perception • We rarely make major changes

  20. Who is influenced the most • Those with the least political attention • Those without stable party identification • Elections can swing if it is close

  21. How the Media Makes things exciting Horse Race Coverage

  22. Horse Race Coverage • What is it? • What does it contain • Why?

  23. The GOP Polls

  24. The keys to horse race coverage • Polling • Perception • No issues

  25. Component I: Categorizer • Sorts the candidates into winners and losers • Creates an Image for the candidate

  26. Component II: Expectation Setter • Puts odds on the candidates • You want to be at the top… duh • But it isn't as good as you might think

  27. Component III: Mentioner • You want the media to notice you • Not all press is good press • Mentions mean money and votes

  28. Component IV:Winnowing • The Press Winnows (narrows) down the candidates • Attention is on Iowa and NH • Frontloading is the results

  29. Type of Coverage in 2008 Primary

  30. Horse Race Dominates 2008 General

  31. Debates

  32. Presidential Debates • A Recent Phenomenon • General Strategies • Do not screw up

  33. Why Candidates Like these • A chance for exposure • A chance for Legitimacy • A chance to move in the polls

  34. Presidential Debates • Who Wins (the leader in the polls) • The Person who doesn’t make a mistake • Does it matter?

  35. Presidential Debates • Win by not losing • What don't you want to do? • The 1960 Debate • Look ancient • Seem heartless • You are no Jack Kennedy • Eastern Europe is Free • The Global Test • Adm. James Stockdale • Blind , Deaf, Dumb

More Related