Public Opinion and the Mass Media

Appetizer Name and describe four types of propaganda we talked about last week.

Four Types EndorsementName-Calling Glittering Generalities Bandwagon

Objectives 4.04 Demonstrate active methods of promoting and inhibiting change through political action Describe the benefits of civic participation 4.08 Participate in civic life, politics, and/or government.

Public Opinion Public opinion includes the ideas and attitudes that most people hold about elected officials, candidates, government, and political issues. –Presidents and candidates know that they need the people’s support to carry out their programs. This includes members of the general population and Congress.

Public Opinion The Public opinion is not uniform or the same. Americans rarely agree on issues.

Factors that influence Public Opinion Personal Background Mass Media Public Officials Interest Groups

Personal Background People’s economic and social background can affect a person’s public opinion. –Age-Residency –Gender –Income –Race –Religion –occupation

The Mass Media Media that communicates to the masses through radio, newspapers, magazines, recordings, movies, and books. Mass Media has a major influence on public opinion. –The media provides images and political information that is delivered directly to the masses. –The way that the media covers major events or issues can play a strong part in swaying public opinion.

Public Officials –Candidates, Office Holders, they can swing public opinion. –They try to bring the issues to the masses in hopes of persuading them to support their point of view.

Interest Groups Interest groups work at influencing public opinion by trying to persuade people to see their point of view.

Components of Public Opinion DirectionIntensityStability

Direction Is a topic positive or negative?

Intensity The Strength of a Given Issue –Most Americans do not have intense positions on most political topics. –However, when they do they tend to vote against or for a candidate or work in an election campaign or participate in a demonstration

Stability The firmness of the public’s opinion. For example, people’s opinions on civil rights are more stable than their beliefs on political issues and candidates.

Measuring Public Opinion Public Opinion is measured in a variety of ways. –Through Election Results –Through Public Opinion Polls Pollsters are specialists who collect poll data. They also interpret and analyze the data.

Pollsters Pollsters have to be careful how they word their questions. –Poll questions need to be as unbiased and fair as possible. –Note that there is usually some bias in questions it doesn’t matter how unbiased they try to be.

Before we get to the media… Do you think more people get their news from electronic sources or printed media such as newspapers?

The Mass Media The Mass Media is involved in everything and anything related to politics, issues, and media.

Print Media Print Media consists of –Newspapers –Books –Letters –Magazines –Journals

Electronic Media RadioTelevisionInternetMovies

Media Outlets The majority of media outlets are private businesses and are in it to make money. Managers, Editors decide what stories to run or what programs to run to attract more viewers, readers, and listeners The larger the audience, the more money the business is likely to make.

Some Media Facts Television is considered to be the most important medium to convey political ideas and issues to the people –Over 98% of homes today have at least one television –Most people rely on the TV for their news and information.

Newspapers More than 70 percent of adults read newspapers according to your book. However, the real number is around % For those that do read, they usually spend three to four hours a week on them. Newspapers and magazines present more in depth coverage of current events than the TV.

The Internet The Internet is one of the fastest growing media outlets in the world today. People can get more information from the net than reading a newspaper or watching brief TV reports. The Internet gives people faster access to news information.

Media’s Impact on Politics and Government The Media has a strong influence on political issues and public opinions. They can influence which issues are the most important while others go unnoticed. –For example, Gas Prices and the Environment. Vocab. Alert: Public Agenda: issues that are considered to be the most significant by public officials

Influence on Candidates and Public Officials The media makes it possible for candidates who may not consider running for office, actually run. –Candidates do not necessarily have to have prior political experience to run. For example, Ronald Reagan

Elected Officials Elected officials want the media to portray them as hardworking individuals. They also rely on the media to communicate to the masses on political activities and dealings.

The Double-Edged Sword Political Officials will use assistants such as press secretaries to get information to the people about what is going on in office. Sometimes information will leak out. Sometimes information will leak out. Officials will secretly pass on or leak information, good or bad to the masses. Officials will secretly pass on or leak information, good or bad to the masses. This is a double edged sword since information can be good or it can be bad. This is a double edged sword since information can be good or it can be bad.

Watchdog Role The Media can also serve as a watchdog for political activities. The Media can also serve as a watchdog for political activities. Journalists are hungry for scandals, corruption, or government waste. Journalists are hungry for scandals, corruption, or government waste. They want to share anything and everything related to a politicians public and private life. They want to share anything and everything related to a politicians public and private life. This not only affects an official but their family as well. This not only affects an official but their family as well.

Media and National Security Since 9/11 there has been a general need for information on National Security. However, there are some things that the government will do in order to protect intelligence information and limit information that the media can leak out to the people

Terror Alert System Note, you will generally see the current terrorism threat level on the bottom scroll of most major cable news networks.

Make a Quiz…. Your assignment is to make a ten question quiz related to Chapter 11 which will be due at the end of the period. Your assignment is to make a ten question quiz related to Chapter 11 which will be due at the end of the period. You may use Short-Answer, Multiple Choice, and Matching questions on your quiz or you can mix and match. You may use Short-Answer, Multiple Choice, and Matching questions on your quiz or you can mix and match. Do not use True-False or Essay questions. Do not use True-False or Essay questions.

Breakdown of the Chapter 11-1 Public Opinion 11-2 Mass Media 11-3 Propaganda and Interest Groups

Agenda for Thursday Interest Groups (Warm-Up/Appetizer) and…… and…… Intro to Law

For Friday….. Midpoint test!!! Midpoint test!!! Law Continuation Law Continuation