POL 101: U.S Government 5

Political Socialization - Process by which a person forms his or her ideas about politics - Is a never-ending process, but people are more malleable during childhood and adolescence - Most adults identify with the same party as their parents - Who are the main influences of political socialization - Family - School - Friends - The Media Media – watchdog - Monitoring the conduct of government officials - Watergate scandal - Clinton – Lewinsky scandal Clarify Positions of Candidates - What positions does a candidate support - What party does he or she stand for - General knowledge of a candidate, character, experience Keeping the Public informed - Breaking major news stories, emergencies - What is going on in the world Mainstream News - Still a popular source for information in the United States

- Television - Newspaper - Radio Alternate news sources - Social media – Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, blogs, podcasts etc. - Alternate media sources have significantly increased in use in the 21 st century News Media - The media can be a valuable tool in democracy - It can serve to inform voters of the experience and intentions of political leaders as well as Keep us informed on pertinent issues. - However, many news sources have switched from reporting hard hitting news to pop culture Stories - It gets viewers - News outlet revenue comes from advertisement, the more people who watch/read the More money they make. - If it bleeds, it leads Media and Public Opinion - The media can influence how people perceive an issue - Media outlets often frame stories that can alter how they are understood Media Bias - Fairness Doctrine was repealed by the federal communications commission in 1983 - Today ’ s news stations reach across the political spectrum and almost every media

Center has some sort of bias. - Priming – Attempting to affect public perception of political leaders by reporting news In ways that enhance or diminish them - Will indirectly make one party or candidate look better - Framing – The way the media slants a story - The media might define an issue in a way more favorable to one party Types of Media Bias - Bias by omission – Including more sources that support one view over another - “ experts believe ” , “ observers say ” , “ most people believe. ” - Only provides these sources for one side of the argument Media and Democracy - Does media enhance our democratic system? - Yes – The media provides new ways to stay informed, interact with leaders, and Maintain transparency. - No – Media harms democracy by chasing sensation and instigating conflict. Modern Media offers everyone a voice, thereby drowning everyone out except the loudest and Most obnoxious Measuring Public Opinion - Polling – method of gauging the record of public opinion - Sample size – the amount of people surveyed in a poll - Random sample vs. Non-random sample