How Media Impact Our Government

Mass Media in the Digital Age

How Media Impact Our Government

defamation: a false claim or expression about a person that damages that persons reputation.

source: person a reporter consults to get information

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): requires federal agencies to release files to the public, unless the material falls into certain exceptions for national security or other confidential information

shield law: a state law that protects reporters from having to reveal their sources.

fairness doctrine: rule that required broadcasters to provide opportunities for the expression of opposing views on issues of public importance.

embedded journalist: a reorter who travels with accopanies troops into battle, then reports live about what they experience.

blog: a personal "Web log," or online journal, in which an individual or group records their own thoughts, experiences, observations, opinions and so on.

electronic mailing list: an automated e-mail notification that provides subscibers with current information on a topic.

action alert: a message from an interest group to its members, calling upon them to respond immediatley by phone, fax, or email to public officials.

electronic petition: a message that asks the recipient to "sign" his or her name electronically to a request that will be sent to an official.

technology: digital tools used to record and share information

global: worldwide; universal

front-runner: label given to the candidate who wins an early primary, even if by a very small margin.

commentator: person who reports and discusses news on radio or television.

spot advertising: brief ( 30 second to 2 minutes) frequent, positive descriptions of the candidates or the candidates major platform points, and/or negative depictions of the opposing candidates.

prior restraint: censorship of information before it is published.

libel: false written or published statements that damage a persons reputation.

press conference: the news media's questioning of a high-level government official

leak: the release of secret information to the media by anonymous government officials.

expose: to make known, reveal, or disclose the faults of.

media event: a visually interesting event designed to reinforce a politician's position on some issue.

horse-race coverage: news coverage of presidential election campaigns in which the media treat the campaign as if were a sporting event, generating excitement by focusing on who is ahead, who is making a comeback and so on.

mass media: all of the means for communicating information to the general public, such as newspapers, radio, television, and the internet.

journalist: professional media communicator, including reporter, columnist, editor, editorial writer, editorial cartoonist, photojournalist , correspondent, commentator, and news director.

news release: a ready made story prepared by officials for members of the press; also called a press release.

news briefing: a media communication during which a government official makes an anoncement or explains a policy, decision or action.