Topic 5.13 Changing Media

Topic 5.13 Changing Media

LO 5.13.A Explain how increasingly diverse choices of media and communication outlets influence political institutions and behavior.

• EK 5.13.A.1 Political participation is influenced by a variety of media coverage, analysis, and commentary on political events.

• EK 5.13.A.2 The rapidly increasing demand for media and political communications outlets from an ideologically diverse audience have led to debates over media bias and the impact of media ownership and partisan news sites.

• EK 5.13.A.3 The nature of democratic debate and the level of political knowledge among citizens is affected by:

  • Increased media choices

  • Ideologically oriented programming

  • Consumer-driven media outlets and emerging technologies that reinforce existing beliefs

  • Uncertainty over the credibility of news sources and information

As the media has increasingly transitioned from traditional methods of delivering political news (radio, broadcast and cable TV programs) to more Internet-based platforms, Americans now have access to a seemingly unlimited amount of political news. The media plays a critical role in shaping public opinion, informing citizens about political issues, and promoting political engagement. The way in which the media covers political events can have a significant impact on how citizens view politics, their level of engagement, and their willingness to participate in the political process. Despite this, many political scientists believe these new developments may be doing more harm than good. 

​Influence on Political Participation

Media coverage of political events can influence how citizens view the importance of a particular issue. If the media gives extensive coverage to a particular issue, it can increase the public's awareness and concern about that issue, leading to increased political participation. For example, the media's coverage of the Flint water crisis in Michigan in 2014 brought widespread attention to the issue of contaminated drinking water, which in turn led to increased public engagement, activism, and political participation. 

​Influence on Political Participation

The media can also influence political participation by providing citizens with information about political candidates and their platforms. For instance, during election campaigns, the media plays a crucial role in informing citizens about the candidates' positions on key issues, their qualifications, and their track record. This information helps citizens to make informed decisions and engage in the political process by casting their votes or participating in political activism.

​Influence on Political Participation

The media's coverage of political events can also influence how citizens perceive the effectiveness of government and the political system. If the media focuses on political scandals, corruption, and inefficiency, it can create a negative perception of the government and the political system, which can discourage political participation. On the other hand, if the media focuses on positive developments and success stories in government, it can encourage political engagement and foster a more positive view of the political system.

​Influence on Political Participation

An increased demand for news reporting tailored to individual political ideologies has stimulated the growth of news organizations that provide viewers with daily news and commentary that align with their personal political belief system. Beginning with CNN in the 1980s, followed by Fox News in the mid-1990s, and more recently with online platforms such as the Huffington Post, the Daily BEast, and the Daily Wire, Americans now have multiple options when seeking ideologically targeted news. One recent concern with these developments in TV and Internet news has been the increasing level of bias evident in the reporting of the news. Eager to attract as many advertisers as possible, these companies have increasingly revealed their biases and, in many cases, have placed more emphasis on appealing to viewers’ emotions via sensationalistic reporting and commenting on the news, rather than in-depth, substantive news.

​Media Partisanship

Many sites often cater to a specific audience and can contribute to the spread of misinformation, political polarization, and the breakdown of public trust in the media. Partisan news sites can also contribute to the creation of echo chambers, where individuals are exposed only to viewpoints that align with their own, reducing their exposure to alternative perspectives and leading to a further reinforcement of their existing beliefs. If citizens rely on partisan news sites for their information, they may receive an overly partisan and distorted view of political events and issues, leading to a further reinforcement of their existing beliefs and political polarization.

​Media Partisanship

This trend toward ideological news has been exacerbated by the rise of social media, which has made it easier for individuals to find and consume news that aligns with their personal beliefs. For example, social media algorithms can use data on an individual's previous news consumption to suggest similar content, leading to a reinforcement of their existing beliefs and a further narrowing of their exposure to alternative perspectives.

The increasing level of bias in news reporting has contributed to a decline in public trust in the media, as well as a decline in the perceived accuracy and impartiality of news reporting. This has led to a further breakdown in civil discourse, as individuals are more likely to dismiss news that does not align with their existing beliefs and are less likely to engage in productive political debates.

​Media Partisanship

​Media Bias

​Knowing the political bias of media outlets allows you to consume a balanced news diet and avoid manipulation, misinformation, and fake news. Everyone is biased, but hidden media bias misleads and divides us. The AllSides Media Bias Chart™ is based on a full and growing list of over 1,400 media bias ratings.

​One topic, three headlines

With the changing media landscape, more Americans are demonstrating confirmation bias—seeking out and interpreting information in a way that confirms what they already believe. This reality is played out on social media platforms on a daily basis, as Facebook “friends” and Twitter followers post links to articles, videos, memes, and other sources that serve to reinforce their own belief system. In this way, social media has placed extreme pressure on media organizations when determining what to report on and how to report it. This has caused an increase in consumer-driven media that focuses on attracting as many readers/viewers/listeners as possible, even at the expense of quality reporting of the news.

​Consumer Driven Media

Despite having access to more political news than at any other point in American history, many Americans are often misinformed due to irrisponsible media consumption. The sharing of political news online via social media platforms has increased interactions between like-minded Americans, but hasn’t necessarily led to a more informed citizenry. Americans far too often consume political news without determining the credibility of the source. Many political scientists fear that this consumer-driven media landscape will only get worse—potentially leading to a dangerously misinformed electorate—and that the only solution is to exercise more discretion when consuming political news. 

​Misinformed Electorate

Match

Match the following

• This is the tendency for people to favor information that confirms their pre-existing beliefs or values while ignoring contradictory evidence.

• Refer to situations in which beliefs are amplified by communication and repetition inside a closed system and insulated from rebuttal.

• Involves critically examining media sources, including news articles, broadcasts, social media posts, etc., to understand their messages, biases, accuracy, and impact on public opinion.

• Sets of computational instructions used by social media platforms to curate and present content to users based on their preferences, behaviors, and interactions.

• False or inaccurate information, particularly when it's shared regardless of an intent to deceive.

Confirmation bias

Echo chamber

Media analysis and commentary

Social media algorithms

Misinformation

• Confirmation bias

• Echo chamber

• Media analysis and commentary

• Social media algorithms

• Misinformation

Multiple Choice

Which best describes a likely reason for the information depicted in the graph?

• An increase in concerns over media bias

• An increase in the median age of the population

• A decrease in the number of media outlets

• A decrease in ideological news coverage

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about Americans’ trust in the mass media is best supported by the data in the graph?

• It generally increased over time.

• It experienced its largest increase in 2013.

• It generally decreased over time.

• It experienced its largest decrease in 2016.

Multiple Choice

A 2017 study in The American Economic Review found that watching Fox News during an election cycle increased a Democrat's chances of voting Republican by 28 percent. Conversely, by watching MSNBC Republicans were more inclined to vote Democrat by 8 percent. This scenario best illustrates which of the following about the media?

• Increased media choices tend to reinforce existing beliefs when citizens are offered ideological choices in programming.

• Cable news programming is oftentimes ideologically driven and effective in persuading citizens to adopt their point of view.

• The consumption of news tends to increase voter participation for Republicans but is less effective in increasing participation for Democrats.

• Modern political parties have launched air campaigns to persuade voters by purchasing advertisements on 24-hour news networks.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information?

• Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary.

• Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

• The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press.

• There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a true statement about the role of the media in providing citizens with information?

• Investigative reporting dominates the news because it is less expensive than political commentary.

• Demand for instantaneous news reporting has led to the growth of 24-hour news operations and a shift to online media consumption.

• The media is increasingly controlled by the major political parties, who determine which stories are covered by the press.

• There has been an increase in social media and Internet news consumption by the public, causing the top five media conglomerates to have greater control over public opinion.

Multiple Choice

Tom believes that the government should be limited in its regulation of the economy, but he wants to find out more about economic policy. As he researches the topic, he increasingly relies on a well-respected conservative blog as his main source of information. Tom's actions demonstrate the tendency of individuals to seek out information from sources that

• integrate social and economic concerns

• reinforce existing political beliefs

• use empirical data to support conclusions

• focus on individual opinions rather than group consensus

Multiple Choice

Which of the following provides the most accurate explanation of how consumer-driven media increases partisan polarization?

• Consumer-driven media tends to avoid discussing controversial political topics.

• Consumer-driven media reinforces existing political biases in individuals.

• Consumer-driven media relies heavily on corporate advertising.

• Consumer-driven media is overwhelmingly conservative.

Multiple Choice

The way the media defines and portrays an issue, which affects public perception of that issue.

• framing

• interpreting

• analyzing

• representing

Multiple Choice

TV and radio news programs that cater to audiences with a particular social and political perspective.

• ideologically-oriented programming

• audience-targeted broadcasts

• opinionated media outlets

• ideology-driven transmissions

Multiple Choice

Websites and blogs that cater to audiences with a particular ideological perspective.

• partisan news sites

• online discussion forums

• social media networks

• Truth Social

Multiple Choice

Which of the following provides the most accurate explanation of how increased media choices have affected partisan polarization?

• It gives people several options of where they get their news from, leading them to choose media that aligns with their ideological beliefs.

• It has forced news providers to focus on staying moderate, otherwise they may lose consumers to organizations they see as unbiased.

• It has reduced the number of people who identify with a political ideology, leading to a rise in the number of moderate voters.

• It allows for the constant streaming of political news, leading to a more informed and politically engaged electorate.

Multiple Choice

Based on the text, which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

• The vast number of news blogs has made traditional publications like the New York Times unnecessary

• Although bloggers can cover stories as they happen, they do not have the training to provide good quality news coverage

• It is inaccurate to label citizen journalists “volunteers” as they are usually paid by newspapers and TV stations for their stories

• Traditional editorial principles are needlessly restrictive in the digital age

Multiple Choice

The data displayed in the infographic best supports which of the following statements?

• Since 1983, American news sources have become concentrated in the hands of a few companies

• As of 2011, all of American media is under the control of six companies

• As of 2011, Disney and Viacom control 30% of the American media market

• Since 1983, American news sources have become increasingly diverse and partisan

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a consequence of consumer-driven media outlets?

• An increase in programming that challenges the existing beliefs of partisan viewers

• An increase in the diversity of viewpoints as media conglomerates splinter into smaller companies

• An increase in sensational stories and attack journalism rather than factual reporting

• An increase in government propaganda through official state media channels

Multiple Choice

Which of the following scenarios is an example of how the media influences political participation?

• While attending a Black Lives Matter protest, Rafael marks his location and posts a status encouraging people to vote in the next local sheriff election.

• As Lizzie scrolls through her Instagram activity feed, she sees a political advertisement for a candidate in the 2020 presidential election.

• Landon tunes into a political satire program to watch the host interview his favorite celebrity about their new television show about the White House.

• After watching a debate between experts about a bill up for a vote in the House, Josie calls her senator to ask her to vote against the bill if it makes it to the Senate.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a potential consequence of the trend in the chart?

• Decreased partisanship among news consumers and social media users

• Increased political efficacy among millennial and Gen X voters

• Decreased social media usage in favor of traditional media sources

• Increased uncertainty among consumers over the credibility of news sources and information

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a true statement about the role media plays in providing citizens with political knowledge?

• It can determine a citizen's core political beliefs about the role of the government in the United States.

• It enhances people’s access to political information so they can make thoughtful decisions about their representatives and policy.

• It holds the different levels of government accountable for their actions by acting as a watchdog.

• It can impact the outcome of an election as their reporting can encourage or discourage citizens to vote.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a potential consequence of the change illustrated in the infographic?

• The range of viewpoints expressed in news coverage has increased

• The range of viewpoints expressed in news coverage has diminished

• News segments have started focusing more on hard issues rather than “infotainment”

• Large media outlets have started splitting into smaller companies