POLSC232: American Government

2.2: The Media

• Dr. Patrick Scott's "The Media" URL

  Use these slides prepared by Dr. Scott as a reference for taking notes while watching the Media lecture.
  

• Dr. Patrick Scott's "The Media" Page

  Watch this lecture.

• American Government and Politics in the Information Age: "Chapter 1: Communication in the Information Age" URL

  Read this chapter. The media, in particular the print media, have been called the "fourth estate" and the "fourth branch of government." The news media pervades American politics and generally helps define American culture. New communications technologies have made the media more influential in American society and serve as a link between politicians, government officials, and the public.

• U.S. Department of State: "Elections: New Media: New Challenges" and "New Media: Government 2.0" Page

  Watch these video clips to learn about the impact that new media has had on American elections and the government. Think about how Barack Obama was able to utilize the power of new media, including social media, in the 2008 election to connect with voters and strengthen the "grassroots" component of his campaign.

• Checkpoint

  • 2.2 Checkpoint Quiz

    Answer these ungraded questions to see how well you have understood the course material in this section.