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Unit 3: AP Government and Politics. Toward Reform: media influence and Bias. Homework : Assignment 15 for tomorrow. What effect does media have on public/government?. Likely there is some; tough to know how much Selective attention of the public hurts ability to have an impact
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Unit 3: AP Government and Politics Toward Reform: media influence and Bias Homework: Assignment 15 for tomorrow
What effect does media have on public/government? • Likely there is some; tough to know how much • Selective attention of the public hurts ability to have an impact • Greater influence on foreign policy • TV/Radio often correlate with issues the public finds “important” • “Media effects” – What are the extent to which media affects society? • Influences public opinion, no doubt • Agenda setting • Influence issues addressed by government • “Framing” • How an issue is portrayed affects how it is perceived
Video: Thinking Like a Political Scientist 14.5 http://media.pearsoncmg.com/ph/hss/SSA_SHARED_MEDIA_1/polisci/presidency/Seg4_Media_v2.html
News bias? • Pew poll
News bias? • Journalists/Reporters • Individuals in the media are biased, as are all of us, in terms of values, preferences and attitudes • Popular belief is that most news has a liberal slant • Probably true that most reporters tend to be more liberal; but self-identified is at all-time low • Probably biased more in terms of education of employees and desire for dramatic (“if it bleeds, it leads”) • Question now may be effects of consolidation… • More conservative and/or corporate-friendly?
Public Confidence • Assessment by public is generally unfavorable • Inaccurate, biased, rich and powerful influence what is covered • But Americans still value the watchdog role of the media