THE POWER OF THE MEDIA

Today’s Objective ◦ After today’s lesson, students will be able to… ◦ Explain the influence of the media ◦ Essential Skill ◦ Make inferences and draw conclusions

What is the Press? ◦ Traditional Forms ◦ Newspapers ◦ Magazines ◦ Pamphlets ◦ Posters ◦ Non-Traditional Forms ◦ Radio ◦ Television ◦ Internet ◦ Social Media

Quotes about the News ◦ “If you don’t read the newspaper you are uniformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.” – Mark Twain ◦ “Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.” – Napoleon ◦ “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire ◦ “…painting is not done to decorate apartments. It is an instrument of war.” – Picasso ◦ “Haven’t you heard, it’s a battle of words, the poster bearer cried.” – Pink Floyd

Comparing Sources ◦ Are their any differences in the way stories are presented? ◦ How does bias affect the information the public is receiving?

Is the Media Biased?

Media Activity ◦ Please pick up an IPad ◦ Visit the website and fill out the bias matrix ◦ Find articles from competing media outlets and answer the questions ◦ Be prepared to discuss

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Content is explicitly political and intends to change political beliefs or behavior

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Political ads, PSAs, Documentaries

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Content is explicitly political and intends to change political beliefs or behavior Political content is implied and intent is change political beliefs or behavior

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Political ads, PSAs, Documentaries Political values in entertainment programming

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Content is explicitly political and intends to change political beliefs or behavior Political content is implied and intent is change political beliefs or behavior Content is explicitly political, but with no intent to influence political behavior or beliefs

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Political ads, PSAs, Documentaries News Political values in entertainment programming

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Content is explicitly political and intends to change political beliefs or behavior Political content is implied and intent is change political beliefs or behavior Content is explicitly political, but with no intent to influence political behavior or beliefs Whatever political content and consequences that may exist are unintentional

Political Uses of Media IntentionalUnintentional Explicit Implicit Political ads, PSAs, Documentaries News Political values in entertainment programming Vast majority of entertainment programming

Political Uses of Media ◦ Fully Disseminated ◦ Media controls dissemination and/or content of the message

Political Uses of Media ◦ Because of interest in ratings, media outlets need to develop stories that engage audience fairly quickly ◦ Means focusing more on the “horse race” angle of the election rather than the issues that are driving the election ◦ Who is ahead? ◦ By how much? ◦ Who is going to win?