2. TThe mass media are ways that information can be sent to a large audience. MMass media includes newspapers, tv, radio, the internet, magazines, pop music, movies, etc. MMass media is usually targeted to a specific audience to give a specific message.

3. TThe public opinion is the ideas felt by the population en masse or in a specific group of people. ““The public” holds different opinions on things depending on how an issue is framed up. PPublic opinion can be charted in polls, party membership, voter turnouts, protests, meetings, etc. CCan be multiple “publics”…even within a public.

4. Radical—Liberal—Moderate—Conservative—Reactionary PPeople who are called radicals or liberals are said to be on the “left”. They believe the government should be the focal point of change in this country. TThe “middle”, called moderate, holds views and opinions from both sides. CConservatives and reactionaries are on the “right”. They favor to keep things the same or restore things to a “better time”.

5.  Attitudes are shaped while we are younger from those around us.  Our parents and our teachers help to shape many of our political thoughts.  Our political opinions and ideals, however, do evolve over our lifetime.  From parents, we learn right from wrong.  From schools, we learn about fitting in and the greater world around us.

6.  Are people we normally associate with, be it at school, in the neighborhood, or at work.  Belonging to a group reinforces many of the things we believe.  Many people tailor their political beliefs to match that of the group or seek out like minded groups.

7.  1. Define mass media.  2. Define public opinion.  3. Where on the political spectrum do you think you lie on? Why?  4. Why do parents and peer groups have so much influence on a person’s political outlook?

8.  Opinion leaders help to shape the political landscape.  They are a distinct minority of the population, but shape the greater flow of politics because they are a loud voice and cause controversy.  Many of the modern political influences come from these leaders.  Other leaders can be politicians.

9.  Sometimes historic events can help to shape public opinion: Great Depression, Watergate.  Wars can be divisive or uniting: Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, War on Terror.  Some leaders can be inspirational: JFK, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan.  Others can be detrimental: George W. Bush, Newt Gingrich, Nancy Pelosi.

10.  There are various ways to measure public opinion.  Voter turnout can either show support or opposition to a political leader/party.  Protests and demonstrations are good factors.  Polls can show, generally, how the public’s mood tends to be.

11.  An interest group is a private organization that is united for a common purpose or cause.  These groups help to shape public policy and push certain issues to the forefront.  They can help generate public support/opposite, command lots of money, or garner lots of media attention.  Special interest groups help form public opinion on key issues.

12.  5. How can historic events change someone’s political views?  6. Who are opinion leaders and why do they matter?  7. What is a public interest group?

13.  Public opinion is often studied with polls, a random sampling of the population.  Some polls are more scientific and accurate than others.  Straw votes are a type of poll that ask the same question to a wide audience. However, it is unreliable because it can be shaped only by the audience that the questioner reaches.  Scientific polls, like Gallup, take a random sampling of a population.

14.  First define your population (all Americans, Phillies Phans, Republicans, residents of Hancock, NY, etc.)  Take a small part of that universe (like 150 people out of a town of 1500. This is called a sample.  A random sample is just that, a randomly selected group of people.  Another sample is a quota sample. If Asians are 15% of the population, you will interview 15% of the total number sampled as Asians.  Prepare valid questions.  How to interview: in person, door to door, on the phone, through a mailing.

15. AAre they reliable? Are they scientific? Are they fair? WWere the questions loaded or objective? DDo polls really tell how the population is thinking and feeling? PPoll crashing. EExit poll accuracy.

16.  Some people will vote based on who is winning in the polls. Nobody likes a loser.  Some politicians will tailor their campaigns to meet the poll numbers.  Too much emphasis placed in polls?  Too much reliance placed on them by news sources.

17. YYellow Journalism and the muckrakers FFDR and the Fireside Chats. JJFK and Nixon on TV. RRonald Reagan and Clinton on TV. RRole of Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN.

18.  Mass media has helped to start wars (Spanish American, War in Iraq) and turn public against it (Vietnam, War in Iraq).  Mass media has built up politicians and then broken them apart.  Mass media has uncovered many scandals by politicians.  Mass media helps to force issues on the public (gay rights, child labor, civil rights, the Progressive Era, etc.)

19.  Mass media serves as a watchdog against politicians and parties.  As newspapers fall away, internet blogs and newssites have picked up the slack.  Mass media only works if people believe it.  Mass media also needs facts to back it up.  Media bias can hinder how people see it.  Sounds bites don’t tell the whole story.  Mass media is also limited to its targeted audience

20.  8. How does the media affect political thought?  9. How are polls conducted?  10. What affect do polls have on the public?