The Media in American Politics
Three main functions of the news media in a democracy
Inform the public, provide a forum for debate, and act as a watchdog over government
Federal agency that regulates broadcast radio and television
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
A party is an organization that seeks to do this in government
Gain influence and control over government by winning elections
Organized group that makes policy-related appeals to government
Interest group
The term for the right to vote
Suffrage
Journalism that uses investigation and publicity to scrutinize government officials
Adversarial journalism
Major difference between broadcast and online media in terms of regulation
Broadcast media are regulated by the FCC; online media are largely unregulated
Law that explains why the U.S. has a two-party system
Duverger’s Law
Two main types of interest-group strategies to influence policy
Insider (lobbying) and outsider (public mobilization) strategies
The most important factor predicting who participates in politics
Education
Two factors that have reduced the variety in traditional media ownership
Relaxation of government regulations and corporate consolidation into media monopolies
Term for algorithms and biases that trap people in like-minded news spaces
Filter bubbles or media echo chambers
Emotional and ideological division between parties and their supporters
Party polarization
Triangle-shaped relationship among committees, agencies, and interest groups
Iron triangle
System that determines the president through state-selected electors
The Electoral College
When information is published to affirm an audience’s beliefs rather than to seek the truth
Journalism of affirmation
Provision that requires broadcasters to offer equal air time to political candidates
Equal time rule
Concept that partisanship is a “running tally” of past performance
Retrospective voting model of party identification
Networks of politicians, activists, and interest groups focused on a specific issue
Issue networks
Manipulation of district boundaries for partisan advantage
Gerrymandering
Three ways media shape public opinion through agenda setting, ________, and ______
Framing and priming
Supreme Court decision that struck down the Communications Decency Act (1996)
Reno v. ACLU
What is the term for negative feelings partisans hold toward the opposing party?
Affective polarization (or negative partisanship)
Four incentives used to encourage people to join interest groups
Informational, material, solidary, and purposive benefits
Three main factors that influence voter decisions at the polls
Partisan loyalty, issues and policy preferences, and candidate characteristics