learning target: students should understand the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and...

LEARNING TARGET:STUDENTS SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISMS

THAT ALLOW CITIZENS TO ORGANIZE AND COMMUNICATE THEIR INTERESTS AND CONCERNS.

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS:STUDENTS WILL IDENTIFY POTENTIAL INSTITUTIONS THAT LINK THEM TO GOVERNMENT, BASED ON THEIR

OWN POLITICAL VIEWPOINTS

Linkage Institutions

Weaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Weavers-World

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Political Parties, Interest Groups, and Mass Media - 10–20%

A . Political parties and elections – Chapter 81 . Functions2 . Organization3 . Development4 . Effects on the political process5 . Electoral laws and systems

B . Interest groups, including political action committees (PACs) – Chapter 11

1 . The range of interests represented2 . The activities of interest groups3 . The effects of interest groups on the political process4 . The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process

C . The mass media – Chapter 71 . The functions and structures of the news media2 . The impacts of the news media on politics3 . The news media industry and its consequences

The Mass Media

1 . The functions and structures of the news media2 . The impacts of the news media on politics3 . The news media industry and its consequences

…on the news

• “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – Thomas Jefferson

• “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers .” – Thomas Jefferson




• “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion by education .” – Mark Twain

• “If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.” – Mark Twain




"Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.“ - Napoleon

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” - Voltaire




• What do these quotes suggest about the power and importance of the news?

• What do these quotes suggest about the accuracy of the news?

• What do these quotes say about how citizens should use the news?

• What do these quotes suggest about what citizens should learn about the news?

• “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.” – T.J.

• “The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers .” – T.J.

• “I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion by education .” – Mark Twain

• “If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.” – Mark Twain

• "Four hostile newspapers are more to be feared than a thousand bayonets.“ - Napoleon

• “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” – Voltaire




“You simply cannot be a well-informed citizen by just watching

the news on television.”

DAN RATHERCBS EVENING NEWS

What is the Purpose of News?

To exercise our right to free press (1st Amendment)

To InformTo PersuadeTo EntertainFor Convenience




Media Literacy Key Concepts

1.All media are constructs of reality. A version of the truth. What is the version of the truth being told here?

2.Media uses specific techniques to help communicate messages. Everything is done on purpose. Why did they pick those techniques?

3.Media have a monetary interest. Someone is paying for this information. What is the money message?

4.Media send value messages. What do they want us to know, think, feel, believe, do?

5.Media both reflect and influence their audiences. Do I see this the same way as others? Weaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License

http://0.tqn.com/d/politicalhumor/1/7/5/K/4/Occupy-Fox-News.jpg

http://the4thpillar.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/mediamoguls.jpg



Evolution of Media and Politics

Newspapers First Daily in 1783 (Philadelphia)

Radio FDR allows the press in with Fireside Chats

Television Image making Broadcasting Narrowcasting

Appeal to Youth

Internet Campaign Websites Blogging Opportunity for more info… but reality is that it is less thorough


http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/presidential-elections/videos/the-first-jfk-nixon-debate

http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/382013/april-14-2011/viacom-ruins-stephen-s-pac-dream



“Project for Excellence in Journalism” (2003)

11% of time was taken up with written and edited stories

Role of the reporter is to talk extemporaneously

Stories were repeated frequentlyNews coverage was “spotty”




Investigative Journalism

Relationship between reporters and political leaders Symbiotic

Increasingly less favorable #1 importance to journalists




The Importance Journalists Assign to Various Roles of the Mass Media

Source: Adapted from David. H. Weaver et al., The American Journalist in the 21st Century (Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum, 2007), 140.

T7-1

Print Media

“Those who read the news are more engaged and knowledgeable about the world than those who only watch the news.” Robert Putnam, “Bowling Alone” Newspaper = 100,000 words vs. Nightly News =

3,600 wordsSteadily declining

Closure of newspapers around the country NYTimes attempts to get readers to pay




“Infotainment”

News must sell Dependent on advertising revenue

(Debate on state-run networks) Need to Know vs. Want to Know

People WANT drama (see p. 215)

More difficult to get message out to society




Sound Bite Society

Politicians can’t get their message outPoliticians able to avoid issuesDecrease in political coverage

Politicians making talk show circuit


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGdkqfBICw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMhB-CwF4yc



Bias in the News

Fair and balanced?or

Significant and Thorough?




Media’s Influence

Agenda-settingPublic evaluation of events


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8rg9c4pUrg



Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Independent regulatory body

Purpose Prevent near monopolies in broadcast market Examines goals and performance of stations for

licensure Issues fair treatment rules in political realm

Equal Time Rule Right of Reply Rule




Check your facts!

http://factcheck.org/ask-factcheck/http://snopes.com/rumors/rumors.asp


http://factcheck.org/ask-factcheck/

http://snopes.com/rumors/rumors.asp



Things to Remember

Eat your vegetables: Use several sources. Especially the ones you don’t like so

much. The media give us what we ask for.Everything is done on purpose:

Ask… What are they trying to Tell/Sell me? How are they doing that? Why that hair style?

Say Thank You: Acknowledge stories that you appreciate being reported on

We could not survive as a democracy without the media.




Political Parties

1 . Functions2 . Organization3 . Development4 . Effects on the political process5 . Electoral laws and systems (covered previously)

- THOMAS JEFFERSON

“If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at

all.”

Goal of Political Parties:

“A team of men seeking to control the governing apparatus by gaining office in a duly constituted election” AKA – Win elections




Party Function

Party in the electorate Ideological association of the people

Republican or Democrat

Party as an organization National, State and Local Offices Decentralized and Fragmented

Party in government Politicians who associate themselves with a party to

create policy




Party as a Linkage Institution

Connect people (public opinion) to lawmakers (policy) How do we get to policy?

Candidates Campaigning Elections Articulate policy Create policy




Rational-Choice Theory- Anthony Downs

Why do we vote the way we do? People vote for their best interest

Parties want to win

\ If party figures out what most people want, they will win.




Majority of Americans are…

Moderates

Party Identification

Ticket Splitting

Voting with one party for one office and with another party for other offices

Practiced mostly by Independents




Party Organization

Local – Party Machines Not as active as once was Weakened by

reforms to apply merit system as opposed to patronage Fair bid regulations Ethnic integration does not rely on party protection as

much

National Convention – Nominate Candidates and Write

platform Committee – Keeps party running Chairperson – Chosen by presidential nominee

Keeps the $ coming inWeaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License



Closed Open

Must register with a party to vote

Encourage party loyalty

Can participate in either party’s primaries

Recent trend

Primary System




Party in Government

Coalitions formPlatforms adopted

Promises into Policy


http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/



Parties through the Ages

"The School of Athens." The School of Athens. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2014. <http://www.newbanner.com/AboutPic/SOA.html>.


"Boston Tea Party." Boston Tea Party. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. <http://www.cr-cath.pvt.k12.ia.us/lasalle/Resources/8th%20Websites%202013/Josh%20Sophia%20Brylie%20Nicole%20Rev%20War/Sophia%20Maher%20Rev.%20War/Boston_Tea_Party.html>.


1796-1824: The First Party System Federalists

First American Party Shortest-lived Party Created by Alexander Hamilton John Adams last Federalist President (1800) Beat out by Democratic Republicans





1828-1856: Jackson’s Democrats v. Whigs Coalition formed b/w Westerns and Southerners Mobilize the masses Opposition: Whigs





1860-1928: 2 Republican Eras 1860 issue: Slavery 1896 issue: Economy





1932-1964: New Deal Coalition FDR appeals to:

Urbanites Labor Minorities Poor Southerners





"A Questão." : 42 Anos Do Woodstock!!!!! N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. <http://aquestaoefoda.blogspot.com/2011/08/42-anos-do-woodstock.html>.


1968-Present: Southern Realignment Nixon’s Strategy

States’ rights Law and Order Strong Military Break Southern Democrat Domination





Divided Government

Partisan Divisions on Key Roll Call Votes during the Bush Presidency

T8-5


"Occupy Wall Street." Http://www.frumforum.com/they-wouldnt-occupy-if-they-had-the-votes/. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. <http%3A%2F%2Fwww.frumforum.com%2Fthey-wouldnt-occupy-if-they-had-the-votes%2F>.

Shift Happens

Critical Elections Fissures in party coalitions New issues New coalitions form

Lead to Party Realignment Often associated with crises




Third Parties

Omni-presentUnrealized effect

Nader’s impact on Gore in 2000 Perot’s impact on Bush (Sr.) in 1992


http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm



Responsible Party Model

"Five Keys to a Long and Fulfilling Life." Five Keys to a Long and Fulfilling Life. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201001/five-keys-long-and-fulfilling-life>.

Responsible Party Model

Parties must present programsCandidates must be committed to the

programMajority party must implement the programMajority party must accept responsibility for

performance of government




Interest Groups

1 . The range of interests represented2 . The activities of interest groups3 . The effects of interest groups on the political process4 . The unique characteristics and roles of PACs in the political process (See Ch. 9 notes)




Role of Interest Groups

Interest: Policy GoalGroup: Combination of PeopleInterest Group: People with shared goals

Policy Specialists As opposed to Parties which are policy generalists

Endorse Candidates But don’t run candidates




The range of interests represented

VAST1959 – 6000 groups2009 – 25,000+ groups


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204224604577030004164533874.html



Types of Interest Groups

Economic Concerned with wages, prices and profits (Union vs.

Business) Union Shop Right-to-work laws

Environmental Equality Interests




Theories of Interest Group Politics

Pluralism Brings representation to all

Elitism Elite run the government

Hyperpluralism Too many groups demand government’s attention Government bows to the wishes of all groups

eventually




What Interest Groups Do

Lobby Source of Information Source of Ideas and Innovations Strategy for successful legislation Strategy for successful reelection campaigns

Electioneering Get the right people in office and keep them there Majority of PAC $ to incumbents

Litigation Amicus Curiae Briefs Class Action Lawsuits

“Going Public” PR to defend reputations or promote stance on issuesWeaver's World by Ashley Weaver is licensed under a

Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International License

http://www.opensecrets.org/resources/dollarocracy/



Iron Triangles

"Iron Triangle (US Politics)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_triangle_(US_politics)>.

Large Group Dilemma

Potential Group often doesn’t translate to Actual Group support

Free-Rider Problem: Potential Group can benefit from the collective good

provided by the work of the Actual Group I.E. Miss Weaver




Small Group Success

Members share in the collective goodMore at stake




Single-Issue Groups

Dislike CompromiseSupport from people new to politicsSuccess because of intensity




What does it all mean?

James Madison’s Federalist #10 “A free society must allow for the representation of all

groups that seek to influence political decision making, yet groups are usually more concerned with their own self-interest than with the needs of society as a whole, and for democracy to work well, it is important that they not be allowed to assume a dominant position.” -Government in America p. 327

Interest Groups allows many channels for political participation which increases democracy




learning target: students should understand the mechanisms that allow citizens to organize and...

Documents

news media industry

mass media chapter

political parties

examples of mass media

political processc

political process5

political process4

news media2