Media and Interest Groups

The media plays an important role in setting the public agenda in all of the following ways EXCEPT

• focusing public attention on selected issues

• holding government officials accountable to the public

• makes contributions to political candidates

• offering a forum in which opposing viewpoints are communicated

Websites, magazines, news, games, tv shows, and advertisements are all types of

• Illustrations

• Social Networks

• Media

• Technology

How can the media influence public opinion?

• Offer a forum for opposing viewpoints

• Hold government officials accountable

• Focus attention on select issues

• Regulate media use

True or false? In its role as gatekeeper, the media decides which stories to run.

• True

• False

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 best describes the role of media in elections?

• To provide entertainment to the public

• To report on the news and inform the public about the candidates and issues

• To donate money to political campaigns

• To officially endorse one candidate over another

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

Who influences public policy by identifying issues, making p olitical contributions, and lobbying government officials?

• Legislators

• Ambasssadors

• Interest groups

• Federal judges

When the media only shows/publishes one side of an issue, the media is

• displaying bias

• offering a forum

• evaluating sources

• holding government officials accountable