As you come in…As you come in…

On a sheet of paper:On a sheet of paper:

1.1. What do you read, watch, listen to, or What do you read, watch, listen to, or view on a weekly basis?view on a weekly basis?

2.2. From your list, what items are tools From your list, what items are tools used by the media?used by the media?

3.3. What does the word “media” mean to What does the word “media” mean to you?you?

Mass MediaMass Media

Types:Types: Print media-newspapers, magazines, Print media-newspapers, magazines,

newsletters, books, and pamphletsnewsletters, books, and pamphlets

Electronic media- radio, TV, internetElectronic media- radio, TV, internet

Impact of the media:Impact of the media:

1.1. Sets public agendaSets public agenda

The public agenda are The public agenda are problemsproblems and and issuesissues that receive the most time from that receive the most time from the media. The media has the power to the media. The media has the power to definedefine an issue as a problem and an issue as a problem and publicizepublicize the issue to the public. the issue to the public.

Example:Example:

2008 Presidential Election: William Ayers2008 Presidential Election: William Ayers

Impact of the mediaImpact of the media

2. 2. Identify CandidatesIdentify Candidates

Through debates, commercials, and the Through debates, commercials, and the news the mass media news the mass media introducesintroduces candidates to the public. The mass candidates to the public. The mass media follows elections to keep the public media follows elections to keep the public informedinformed..

Example:Example:

Commercials from the gubernatorial Commercials from the gubernatorial election:election:

Bob McDonnellBob McDonnell CreighCreigh Deeds Deeds

Impact of the mediaImpact of the media

3. 3. Broadcast points of viewBroadcast points of view

Allows the media and public to express Allows the media and public to express their their opinionsopinions and ideas through and ideas through editorials, op-eds, political cartoons, and editorials, op-eds, political cartoons, and commercials that commercials that supportsupport or or critiquecritique candidates or political parties.candidates or political parties.

Example:Example:

Citizen’s view on the gubernatorial election:Citizen’s view on the gubernatorial election:

After the debateAfter the debate

Impact of the mediaImpact of the media

4. 4. Allow candidates to communicate to Allow candidates to communicate to the publicthe public

Candidates can Candidates can shareshare their ideas and their ideas and opinions through opinions through debatesdebates and and commercialscommercials. They can also critique . They can also critique other candidates, political parties, and other candidates, political parties, and the current government.the current government.

ExampleExample

Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds were Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds were able to share their ideas in the recent able to share their ideas in the recent debatedebate..

Protecting the mediaProtecting the media

11stst Amendment Amendment

The 1The 1stst Amendment state that the media Amendment state that the media has freedom from has freedom from prior restraintprior restraint or or government censorship on material government censorship on material beforebefore it is published. it is published.

Protecting the mediaProtecting the media

RegulationsRegulations

The The Federal Communication CommissionFederal Communication Commission is a government agency that has the is a government agency that has the power to regulate media. The power to regulate media. The commission cannot censor broadcasts commission cannot censor broadcasts buy they can buy they can penalizepenalize stations that stations that violate the rules.violate the rules.

Protecting the mediaProtecting the media

RegulationsRegulations

The media is not allowed to publish The media is not allowed to publish falsefalse information to harm another person. This information to harm another person. This is called is called libellibel. .

Protecting the mediaProtecting the media

RegulationsRegulations

It is extremely difficult for candidates to It is extremely difficult for candidates to charge the media with libel during charge the media with libel during campaigns because they must prove campaigns because they must prove malicemalice, or that the publisher of the , or that the publisher of the information knew that is was false or information knew that is was false or showed a “reckless disregard” for the showed a “reckless disregard” for the truth.truth.

Evaluating InformationEvaluating Information

It is important for YOU as a citizen to make It is important for YOU as a citizen to make informedinformed choices when voting for a choices when voting for a candidate. During election time political candidate. During election time political parties use the media to present the parties use the media to present the electorate with a lot of information. While electorate with a lot of information. While a lot of it is true and accurate, some is a lot of it is true and accurate, some is also also propaganda.propaganda.

Evaluating InformationEvaluating Information

Evaluating Evaluating information makes you an information makes you an informed citizen who can vote for what informed citizen who can vote for what they believe, rather than vote based on they believe, rather than vote based on propaganda.propaganda.

How to evaluate:How to evaluate:

1. Separate FACT from FICTION- Being 1. Separate FACT from FICTION- Being educatededucated about the issues and facts of about the issues and facts of the election will help to determine what is the election will help to determine what is false info.false info.

2. Detect 2. Detect biasbias

Tell the difference between propaganda Tell the difference between propaganda and accurate informationand accurate information

3.3. Evaluate the source providing the Evaluate the source providing the information-information- Know Know whowho published it published it and and whywhy it was published. it was published.

4.4. Identify the propaganda techniqueIdentify the propaganda technique

Your turn to evaluate an Your turn to evaluate an ad…ad…

T.V. AdT.V. Ad