The Role of Media

True or False: Biased means favoring one view over another.

• True

• False

True or False: A "soundbyte" as a story designed to expose wrongdoing.

• True

• False

True or False: In its role as watch-dog, the media decides which issues need public action or attention.

• True

• False

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

• True

• False

True or False: Thanks to the media's influence, people don't need to pay attention to what's going on.

• True

• False

True or False: If you watch the television news, you will hear about all the issues that currently exist.

• True

• False

What is this an example of? : Two hundred people rally in the street to protest a city's decision to cut bus transportation. Instead of covering that event, the evening news runs a story about the mayor's plan to build a new park.

• Media as watchdog

• Media as business

• Media as gatekeeper

• Media as biased

What is this an example of?: A newspaper loses several advertising accounts after sales are down. The paper decides to put crime stories on the front page and move stories about government to page 2. Sales go up, and advertisers begin buying more ad space in the newspaper.

• Media as watchdog

• Media as business

• Media as biased

• Media as gatekeeper

True or False: "The media" only refers to television.

• True

• False

What is this an example of? : The media begins reporting about a disgusting looking ingredient found in many common foods. Soon everyone is talking about the ingredient. People begin signing petitions, and soon there is a major movement to convince the government to outlaw the ingredient

• Media as Watchdog

• Media as Agenda-setter

• Media as gatekeeper

• Media as biased