PUBLIC OPINION MEDIA AND INTEREST GROUPS Mass Media

PUBLIC OPINION, MEDIA, AND INTEREST GROUPS

�Mass Media- communication that reaches a vast audience �Types of Mass Media �Print – newspaper, magazines, newsletters, and books �Electronic – Radio, TV, Internet, Social Media

�Media creates the public agenda – issues that are the most significant � 98% of Americans have televisions in their homes; 70% read the newspaper, 84% use the internet �The information that is given to us definitely effects our opinions on issues

�Media “checks” the government �Exposes any wrong doings within government

� Polls are surveys taken to measure public opinion � Polls can influence your opinion because human nature tells you to follow the norm � Pros of Polls �Allows politicians to see what is important to voters and better serve their community � Cons of Polls �Can influence public �Can lead officials to follow public agenda instead of their own opinion �Can be wrong

�Slander – cannot speak lies �Libel – cannot print lies �Bias – not supposed to show favor for one group or another

� Should the media be allowed to deliver any news desired, even if it puts national security at risk? � How much of an influence do you believe the media has on the public?

�Propaganda- a technique of persuasion aimed at influencing behavior

� Glittering Generalitiesinformation that sounds good but is meaningless � Bandwagon- urges people to follow the crowd � Name-Calling- attacks a person or a policy with a name or label

� Card-Stacking- presents only one side of the issue and distorts facts � Plain Folks- appeals to common people � Celebrity Testimonials- uses endorsements from famous people � Symbols/Transfer- uses popular symbols to create a positive or negative connotation/association

�Special Interest Groups are people who share a point of view about an issue and unite to promote their beliefs

�A lobbyist is a representative of an interest groups or businesses who contacts lawmakers directly to influence them to support their policies �Sometimes lobbyist have a bad reputation, however they are incredibly necessary

�Think Tanks are organization of experts researching and advising on issues of society, science, technology, industry, or business

�Business Groups- try to influence government decisions on issues that effect their industry �Example- Cigarette manufacturers �Labor Groups- unions promote economic interests of workers �Example- these want to improve working conditions, benefits, and wages

�Agricultural Groups- want to influence government decisions on farming and ranching �Examples- taxes, regulations of crops or animals �Professional Groups- professions such as lawyers, doctors, and accountants have interest groups to push for legislation regarding their issues �Example- American Medical Association represents doctors

�Public Interest Groups– support causes that affect the lives of Americans in general �Example- pollution control, consumer protection �Single-Issue Interest Groups– focus on only one cause to support �Ideological Groups– support causes that effect certain ethnic groups, age groups, or gender �Examples- NAACP & AARP

#1 Vote � Government based on popular sovereignty � Only way to make a difference in officials is to vote #2 Volunteering � Offering services to others without payment � Gives you chance to help others and contribute to your community

#3 Protesting � Organizing a group in reaction to a situation or event to try to influence others and/or make a difference #4 Petitioning � Submit a formal request for change � Usually requires a collection of signatures

#5 Surveys � Gathering of public opinion that results can be used to promote change � Usually conducted on random samples of population #6 Run for Office � Obtaining a leadership role on the local, state, or federal level can bring about change throughout the country