The Role of Media

The Role of Media Reading We will read today’s selection one sentence at a time. Everyone must read. Everyone must be ready to read.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. “The media” only refers to television.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. In its role as gatekeeper, the media decides which stories to run.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. A “sound bite” is a story designed to expose wrongdoing.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. Most news sources are not for profit.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. Biased means favoring one view over another.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. About half of all human beings are completely unbiased.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. Bias can affect what stories a media outlet decides are important.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. An issue can’t get on the public agenda if nobody has heard about it.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. Everyone agrees the media should play the role of agenda-setter.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. If you watch television news, you will hear about all the issues that exist.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. In its role as watchdog, the media decides which issues need public action.

True/False Activity Call out the right answers on the count of three. Thanks to the media’s influence, people don’t need to pay attention to what’s going on.

You may work with one other person, but if you do, you must share a glue stick and scissors. Cut out the headlines, then read each newspaper’s agenda on the separate activity page. Decide which newspaper’s agenda each story fits and paste the headline to that newspaper’s front page.