Interest Groups and the Media

Which activity is used by interest groups to influence public policy?

• bribing legislators to support their proposals

• impeaching their opponents in the legislature

• sponsoring news programs on major television networks

• giving legislators the benefit of their subject-area expertise

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which the media affect politics?

• by providing information on both parties

• by contributing to election campaign funds

• by focusing public attention on particular issues

• by providing in-depth coverage of national issues.

Use the graph to answer this question: Based upon the information in the graph, where should a candidate spend the most campaign funds for advertising?

• Newpaper

• Television

• Internet

• Radio

Which best describes the main objective of a lobbyist?

• To raise campaign funds for political parties.

• To influence public decision-making for the common good.

• to influence state legislators or members of congress on issues

• to advise political candidates on how to manager their election campaigns

James Madison wrote that “liberty (freedom) is to faction (political parties) what air is to fire.” After reading this, Jack points out that the Founders would have wanted more restrictions on lobbyists, special-interest groups, and media influencing the government. What would be a good counterargument?

• Elected officials are better able to measure public opinion if there are no interfering factions.

• Lobbyists will balance one another in government influence if they are subject to fewer laws.

• Political ads, despite their biases, are best able to inform citizens when there are no regulations.

• The media, despite its biases, are best able to monitor the government when they are free.

Answer explanation

Media means the various means of sharing information. Examples include television, radio, newspapers, magazines, and the Internet. Some Americans say the media are the "watchdogs" of government. They mean that the media help inform the people what their officials are doing. For example, many websites report how members of Congress vote on new policies. We can see government leaders debate important issues on television. Radio show hosts share their opinions on new laws and programs. Writers of books and newspapers analyze the meaning behind the speeches of leaders. Interest groups use the media to spread their messages to elected officials and the public. Government leaders pay attention to the media. Monitoring the media is one way government leaders can learn how people feel about important issues and the peoples' opinion on how well government is addressing them.

​ (a)   use the media to communicate with the public.

• Government officials

• Lobbyists

• Interest groups

Which of the following is a key role of the media in elections?

• Endorsing specific political parties

• Reporting on candidates and their platforms

• Donating to political campaigns

• Organizing political debates

What is one way that media can display bias?

• By providing factual information

• By choosing which stories to report

• By allowing equal time for all viewpoints

• By reporting without commentary

Which propaganda technique is used in this political communication?

• making a false analogy

• appealing to readers' fears

• presenting an opinion as fact

• smearing an opponent's character

Which of the following is NOT one of the ways in which the media affect politics?

• by providing information on both parties

• by contributing to election campaign funds

• by focusing public attention on particular issues

• by providing in-depth coverage of national issues