Study Guide – Unit 4: The Media

 

Date Due

Assignments

Tues., Sept. 30

1. Read p. 245 – 259

2. Questions 1 - 7

Weds., Oct. 1

1. Read p. 259 – 272

2. Questions 8 – 12

Thurs., Oct. 2

1. Read “Feeding Frenzy” by Larry Sabato in the Readings Book p. 574-581; Take notes (Either on a separate paper or in the margins: highlighting is not sufficient) summarizing the main points and some pertinent examples.

2. Read through “The White House Staff: The Advance Office” in the Readings Book, p. 581-592.  For this article, it is not so important that you remember each detail, just that you get a general picture of what the advance office has to do.

Mon., Oct. 6

1. Read the excerpt from Feeding Frenzy

2. Take notes (Either on a separate paper or in the book: highlighting is not sufficient) summarizing the main points and some pertinent examples.  How does Larry Sabato explain the press focus on personal scandals?

Tues., Oct. 7

Work on homework for Wednesday and next week.

Weds., Oct. 8

Look at the poll results and write down eight conclusions you can make based on that data concerning the state of the media and people’s relations to various media sources.  Think about how these results may impact politics.  Make sure to refer specifically to the poll result on which you base your conclusions.

Mon., Oct. 13

Go to the Links Page of my website and find the section on Media Bias 

Check out at least two sources from the “There is a Liberal Bias” section and at least two from the “There is no Liberal Bias” section.  Take notes on what you find there including specific examples from each source you look at.  Be prepared to discuss whether or not you think the media is biased

Tues., Oct. 14

Test

 

 

Reading Questions

 

1.

In general, how does American media differ from that of England and France?

2.

Define the terms “yellow journalism” and “muckrakers.”

3.

How have the characteristics of the electronic media and the Internet affected the actions of public officials and candidates for national office?

4.

What does the book conclude about the degree of competition in the media?

5.

What is the impact of the “national press?” Define the roles of the national media as gateskeeper, scorekeeper, and watchdog.  Think of examples for each.

6.

Summarize the rules regulating the media and the government including the following: prior restraint, libel, confidentiality of sources, FCC regulations, Telecommunications Act (1996), Equal time rule, Right-of-reply rule, political editorializing rule, fairness doctrine.  Make sure you understand all these rules.

7.

Summarize what the book says about the effects of the media on politics.

8.

How does press coverage of the president and of Congress differ?

9.

What does the book say concerning press bias?

10.

Why does American government have so many leaks?

 

11.

Why do people have an increasing lack of confidence in the media?  Summarize all the reasons that the book gives.

 

 


Terms to Know

 

1.

Muckraker

12.

Equal Time rule

23.

Adversarial Press

2.

Associated Press

13.

Right-of-reply rule

24.

“Off/On the record”

3.

yellow journalism

14.

Political editorializing rule

25.

“On (deep) background”

4.

“Big Three” Networks

15.

Fairness Doctrine

26.

Feeding Frenzy

5.

sound bites

16.

Selective attention

27.

Pack Journalism

6.

Libel

17.

Editorial endorsement

28.

New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964)

7.

Defamation

18.

C-Span

29.

Federal Communications Commission

8.

Prior Restraint

19.

Routine Stories

30.

Telecommunications Act

9.

The Pentagon Papers

20.

Feature Stories

31.

Shield law

10.

trial balloon

21.

Insider Stories

32.

“Above” or “Below the fold” stories

11.

loaded language

22.

News Leaks

33.

Freedom of Information Act (1974)