1. 1 Chapter Six Public Opinion and the Media: Review Questions

2. 2 Public Opinion and Polling What is public opinion? What is the difference between straw polls and scientific polls? Why is government policy often at odds with majority opinion? Why do media and government officials sometimes have an adversarial relationship but at other times a symbiotic relationship?

3. 3 Figure 6.1: Trust in Government Index 1958–2002 Source: The National Election Studies, September 16, 2003.

4. 4 Origins of Political Attitudes – Political Socialization Pre-adult influences – Family – School – Peer groups Adult influences – Religion – Class – Gender

5. 5 Cleavages are complex and reflect the heterogeneity of the U.S. society Race/ethnicity Religion Class Gender Age Region Ideology

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9. 9 Figure 5.2: Age and Interest in Political News Source: Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Center for the People and the Press (June 28, 1990).

10. 10 Political Ideology Equality LiberalsPopulists LibertariansConservatives FreedomOrder

11. 11 Sources of Media Bias Political ideology Commercial competition Selective attention and perception