​Introduction

Over the years, the media has become more and more influential in the political process. The advent of 24-hour news channels, the Internet, and social media provide Americans with an abundance of information. People question the motives and biases of reporters and yet rely on them to understand what is happening in our world. In order to understand the role of the media in American politics, we have to remember that media outlets are, first and foremost, business ventures, and that fact further complicates the whole situation.

Important Files

Media and Politics Study Guide
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Class Links

My Screencast Lectures

Homework Assignments

Assigment 1: Development of Media

​Assignment 2: Functions of Mass Media

Assignment 3: Media Effects on Campaigns and Voters

  • Television and Political Campaigns, pages 359-362
  • Political Campaigns and the Internet, pages 362-363
  • The Media's Impact on Voters, page 364​
  • Study guide questions 7-13
  • Key terms 10-13
  • Influence of Mass Media
  • Media Effects
  • MindTap: The Influence of Media on Political Campaigns

Assignment 4: Government and the Media

  • The Media and Government Control, pages 364-367
  • Government Regulation of the Media, pages 367-368
  • Government Control of Content, pages 368-371
  • Study guide questions 14-21
  • Key terms 14-19
  • Crash Course: Media Regulation
  • MindTap: The Influence of Media on Public Policy

​Assingment 5: Bias in the Media

  • The Public's Right to Media Access, pages 371-372
  • Bias in the Media, pages 372-375
  • Study guide questions 22-25
  • Key terms 20-22
  • MindTap: The Evolution of the Fairness Doctrine

Assignment 6: Study for the Test

  • Chapter summary, pages 376-377
  • MindTap: Chapter 10 Quiz

Interesting Links

Paul Sargent Makes History