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Interest Groups/Media. 4/26/2012. Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government
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Interest Groups/Media 4/26/2012
Clearly Communicated Learning Objectives in Written Form • Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: • discuss and critically analyze political events in the United States government • students will be able to identify and explain the role of informal institutions and their effect on policy.
Office Hours and Readings • Pages 130-151 • Office Hours • None Today • Monday 10-2
The Role of the Media • It is profit driven • Reporting the news • Setting the Agenda
Gatekeepers • Key people who control what we watch • Help to shape political priorities • Driven by profit
What gatekeepers use • The authority of the source • The Amount of Controversy • The importance
The Type of Media Matters • Television is the most important • The internet is the fastest, but has the most bias
We Would Rather Watch Mistakes • Bad Sushi • People Falling • A great collection • Rick Perry
Newspapers and Magazines • Newspapers • Provide more information and Detail • Very few cities have multiple papers anymore • Magazines- vary in content and quality
Does the media really matter The Minimal Effects Model
The Minimal Effects Model • The Fall Campaign is not that important • Most people have made up their mind
Spurious/Minimal effects model • We do not seek out political information • We have selective/exposure perception • We rarely make major changes
Who is influenced the most • Those with the least political attention • Those without stable party identification • Elections can swing if it is close
How the Media Makes things exciting Horse Race Coverage
Horse Race Coverage • What is it? • What does it contain • Why?
The keys to horse race coverage • Polling • Perception • No issues
Component I: Categorizer • Sorts the candidates into winners and losers • Creates an Image for the candidate
Component II: Expectation Setter • Puts odds on the candidates • You want to be at the top… duh • But it isn't as good as you might think
Component III: Mentioner • You want the media to notice you • Not all press is good press • Mentions mean money and votes
Component IV:Winnowing • The Press Winnows (narrows) down the candidates • Attention is on Iowa and NH • Frontloading is the results