Fri 12/8 -- Understanding Mass Media

The media act as key linkage institutions between the people and the policymakers and have a profound impact on the political agenda. Benard Cohen once said “No major act of the American Congress, no foreign adventure, no act of diplomacy, no great social reform can succeed unless the press prepares the public mind.”

How does the media shape public opinion? What are the consequences of the media’s influence on public opinion?  To answer this, we will take a look at PBS’s “Buying the War” and learn how the press help the Bush Administration sell the the war in Iraq to the American people right after 9/11.  Watch PBS’s “Buying the War” here (watch all 4 parts here) and be ready to discuss it this Monday.

Test on Chapter 7 on Tue 12/13.  Check this website this weekend for further info.

Thu 12/7 -- Development of Media Politics

An example of investigative journalism.  Read “Air Force Dumped Remains of 274 Troops in Landfill”

Television entered a new era of bringing new to people.  See CBS’s Walter Cronkite reporting on the Tet Offensive of the Vietnam War in 1968.

Wed 12/7

Read Chapter 7 -- Mass Media (up to p. 215)

Listen to FDR’s “fireside chats” here.

Watch the very first television broadcast of a presidential debate in 1960 between Nixon and Kennedy here

Tue 12/6

Test on Chapter 6

Mon 12/5

Test review on Chapter 6 -- Public Opinion

================================================