Vocabulary: Media, Interest Groups and Propaganda

An organization that supports causes that affect the lives of Americans in general.

• Public Interest Group

• Private Interest Group

• Corporate Lobby

• Nonprofit Organization

Methods of communication that reach large numbers of people.

• Mass Media

• Social Media

• Personal Communication

• Direct Mail

Media that uses carefully crafted messages to manipulate people's actions and beliefs.

• Propaganda

• Advertising

• Public Relations

• Censorship

A representative of an interest group who contacts government officials to influence policy.

• Advocate

• Lobbyist

• Consultant

• Activist

The ideas and attitudes that people hold about elected officials, candidates, government and public issues.

• Public Opinion

• Political Ideology

• Civic Engagement

• Electoral Behavior

A formal request for the government to act

• Petition

• Proposal

• Mandate

• Decree

To influence

• To Persuade

• To Lobby

• To Manipulate

• To Convince

The role of keeping government honest by reporting on illegal practices or waste.

• Guardian

• Watchdog

• Observer

• Sentinel

An organization of people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs.

• Interest Group

• Political Party

• Non-Governmental Organization

• Social Movement

A person's beliefs about another person or group that may not be based on facts and may affect the person's judgement.

• Bias

• Prejudice

• Opinion

• Judgment