How Is a Rapidly Changing Media Affecting Democracy?
What’s It About? Understanding how people engage with the media is as important as the substance of any of the debatable issues affecting American politics and government. The Issue? Thanks to the Internet, is the public better informed about the issues and policies that affect democracy?
https://mediaplayer.pearsoncmg.com/assets/_video.true/mypoliscilab-2017-AmGov-Explaining_Media_and_Democracy
1. The statistic that 67 percent of U.S adults access news via social media is misleading in one crucial respect, according to one of the media experts presented in the video. Why is it misleading?
2. Briefly describe the reality of your media-consuming habits. How does your individual media landscape both affect and reflect your identity?
3. What is confirmation bias and why is it relevant to discussions of an informed public being the key to a lasting democracy?
4. What steps can the public can take to demand more substance and less sensationalism from the press?
Guide On Rating System
Vote
1. The statistic that 67 percent of U.S adults access news via social media is misleading because it does not necessarily mean that they are well-informed about the issues and policies that affect democracy. Social media platforms often display news stories based on users' preferences and algorithms, which can create echo chambers and filter bubbles. These platforms can prioritize sensationalistic or biased content, leading to misinformation and reinforcing existing beliefs.
2. My individual media landscape consists of a combination of traditional media outlets such as newspapers and television news, as well as online sources and social media. I try to consume news from a variety of perspectives to get a comprehensive understanding of different viewpoints.
My media consumption affects my identity by shaping my knowledge, beliefs, and values. The sources I choose to follow and engage with can influence my opinions and worldview. Similarly, my media consumption reflects my identity as I tend to select sources that align with my interests, values, and political views.
3. Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out information that confirms one's pre-existing beliefs and ignore or dismiss information that contradicts them. It is relevant to discussions of an informed public being the key to a lasting democracy because if individuals are only exposed to information that confirms their biases, they may not have a well-rounded understanding of the issues. This can lead to polarization, a lack of constructive dialogue, and a misinformed electorate that is not capable of making informed decisions in a democracy.
4. The public can take several steps to demand more substance and less sensationalism from the press. These include:
- Diverse media consumption: Actively seeking out and engaging with a variety of news sources that present different perspectives and provide in-depth analysis.
- Fact-checking: Verifying information before sharing or accepting it as true, using reliable fact-checking organizations.
- Media literacy education: Encouraging schools and educational institutions to teach critical thinking skills and media literacy to help individuals navigate the media landscape effectively.
- Supporting quality journalism: Subscribing to and financially supporting reliable and independent news organizations that prioritize accuracy and investigative reporting.
- Engaging in civil discourse: Actively participating in respectful and constructive discussions on various platforms to promote informed dialogue and challenge sensationalism.
Got a question with my answer?
Cheapmath.com is completely free!
Asking question is free.
Getting answers is free.
+99