Chapter 8 Flashcards
(32 cards)
Includes politics, public issues, and the making of public policies
Public affairs
Can be described as the attributes held by a significant number of people on matters of government and politics
Public opinion
Includes those means of communication that reach large, widely dispersed audiences simultaneously
Mass media
People with whom one regularly associates, including friends, classmates, neighbors, coworkers, and the like
Peer group
The views expressed by these people, bear heavily on the formation of public opinion
Opinion leaders
Refers to the instructions or commands a constituency gives to its elected officials
Mandate
Private organizations whose members share certain views and objectives, and who work to shape the making in the content of public policy; also known as pressure groups and special interest groups
Interest groups
Devices that attempt to collect information by asking people questions
Public opinion polls
Most earlier polling efforts were done this way; they were polls that sought to read the public mind simply by asking the same question of a large number of people
Straw vote
A term that means the whole population that the poll aims to measure
Universe
A representative slice of the total universe
Sample
Composed of randomly selected people, and so it is one in which all the members of its universe stand an equal chance of being interviewed
Random sample
One deliberately constructed to reflect the major characteristics of a given universe
Quota sample
A means of communication; it transmit some kind of information
Medium
Often called “blogs”— website postings usually devoted to some specific subject
Web blogs
The societal problems that the nations, political leaders and the general public agree need government attention
Public agenda
Snappy reports that can be aired in 30 or 45 seconds
Sound bites
Reporting that served and reinforced the political establishment (1941-1966)
Lapdog journalism
Scrutinized and checked the behavior of political elites by undertaking independent investigations into statements made by public officials (1966-1974)
Watch dog
Reporting that is often and harsh, aggressive intrusive, where feeding frenzies, flourish, and gossip reaches print (1974 to present)
Junkyard dog
What are three causes of the feeding frenzy?
Advances in media technology, competitive pressure, political events
What are the three essential roles of a Free Press in a democracy?
- Serves as a watchdog over government.
- Set the public agenda.
- Supports the free exchange of ideas, information, and opinions.
Events purposely staged for the media that nonetheless looks spontaneous
Media events
Meetings of public officials with reporters
Press conferences
