AP US GOV Chapter 12

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a bill designed to give the public greater access to government records. Exemptions are made in specific areas such as national defense and law enforcement files. However, in most cases government records are open to the public for examination and publication.

This Federal Communications Commission (FCC) doctrine was introduced in 1949 and required broadcast media to cover issues of public importance so as to reflect differing points of view. However, the FCC abolished this doctrine in 1987 as the Supreme Court had ruled against its use if it in any way impeded free speech.

Print Media tends to be more conservative TV news cuts across age groups. Print audiences tend to be higher educated. TV news has more vividness and drama. Print audiences have more in-depth knowledge. TV news—news filtering—only a short amount can be shown due to time constraints.

By leaking information to the media, politicians often hope to change public attitude about a specific issue, bill, or position.

This "free press" helps incumbents and can help increase public awareness and affect public attitudes about specific issues.

the bully pulpit. This term came from President Theodore Roosevelt. The word bully in this instance means superb. The Oval Office provides the president with a superb platform from which he can hope to change public opinion and advance his own agenda.

The use of images in print and electronic media can help keep a politician's name in the limelight while also help advance issues and agendas.

Spin is a word used to describe what public relations experts do to help put a positive spin on situations and events.

Exaggerating one or more physical feature such as a large nose or ears. Another example of caricature: someone who speaks out loudly on an issue might be drawn with an exaggerated mouth.

Using an easily recognizable item to communicate an idea—a donkey to represent the Democratic Party, or an elephant to represent the Republican Party, Uncle Sam to represent the United States of America, a dove for peace, etc.

Having the characters talk using balloons or summarizing the message in a few words above or below the cartoon.

help provide readers with additional points of view assume the viewers have enough information about the issues to understand the message emphasize one side of an issue or concern rely on humor depend upon the picture to convey the point are found in newspapers and magazines

The process by which most individuals screen out messages that do not conform to their own biases.

The process by which individuals perceive what they want to in media messages and disregard the rest.

Commercials advertising on TV or radio advocating a particular position on an issue, paid for by the interest group, and designed to influence voters' choices on election day.

A list of issues that are identified as needing government attention.

For example: The nightly news may decide to cover one story to the exclusion of another. In a very limited time frame the media decides what issues get the most attention.