1. Warm Up What do you think are some of the issues with the current news media in the United States?

2. Thursday, October 8, 2015 Objective: Students will be able to analyze the current media environment in the United States and evaluate ways the news is delivered. Importance: Many Americans are not informed enough and also misinformed. Being aware of how the media operates will help you become a better consumer of news, facts, and perspectives. This will also help you become a better voter.

3. Media in America Main roles: to inform the public and to set political agendas to focus on specific issues Major Television Networks: ABC, CBS, NBC Major Newspapers: The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today Major Magazines: Time, Newsweek, US News & World Report

4. Changes in American Media Satirical/Comedic News Shows The Daily Show, Colbert Report, Last Week Tonight, Real Time with Bill Maher Conservative Talk Radio Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh Internet blogs and news sites (Drudge Report, Huffington Post) Social media: made it easier to share news with others

5. Changes in American Media Cable News 24 hour news cycle is difficult to fill This results in sensationalized programming MSNBC: liberal point of view Fox News: conservative point of view CNN: slightly more liberal than conservative, has fewer opinionated programming and more hard news

6. Signs of Media Bias Dramatic headlines Controversial images Fiery editorials Obsession over certain stories (MSNBC’s coverage of the Iraq War, Fox and Benghazi/Hillary Clinton’s emails) Exaggerated stories (Example: Fox’s “War on Christmas”) Few real facts and little explanations

7. Examples of Non-biased Media National Public Radio News programming on PBS BBC News Reuters news service

8. American Media Habits More Americans tend to be getting their news from sources with a bias they agree with Media and political experts fear that Americans will become less tolerant of the opinions of others as a result of this Less people watch the 5:30 news on ABC, CBS, or NBC, which is often unbiased Popular news programming is either provocative or entertaining