Course: What Are Some of the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Media in the Political Process?

- Announcements Forum
- What Are Some of the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Media in the Political Process?
  This course examines issues regarding the role of the media in the political process. These include federal regulation of broadcast media, government-imposed limitations on freedom of the press, public- and private-sector impediments to freedom of the press, government-run versus government-supported media, government use of media to manipulate public opinion, safeguards against government misuse of media, public versus private media, media consolidation, talk radio, social media, and fact-checking.
  - Introduction
  - Video (2:10) Page
  - Section 1: What Is the Importance to Democracy of People’s Access to Alternative Sources of Information?
  - Video (7:12) Page
  - Review Questions Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 2: What Limitations Are Placed by Government on the Press in the United States?
  - Video (3:08) Page
  - Review Questions (S2) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 3: What Impediments Are There to Freedom of the Press in the United States?
  - Video (4:51) Page
  - Review Questions (S3) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 4: How Free of Government Regulation Is the Media in the United States in Comparison with the Media in Other Advanced Democracies?
  - Video (2:57) Page
  - Review Questions (S4) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 5: What Is the Difference between Government-run and Government-supported Media?
  - Video (3:03) Page
  - Review Questions (S5) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 6: What Examples of Government-run and Government-supported Media Exist in Other Advanced Democracies?
  - Video (2:54) Page
  - Review Questions (S6) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 7: Under What Conditions Might Government-run or Government-supported Media Actually Be Beneficial?
  - Video (5:02) Page
  - Review Questions Part 1 (S7-1) Quiz
  - Review Questions Part 2 (S7-2) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 8: What Safeguards Exist to Prevent Government Use of Media to Manipulate Public Opinion?
  - Video (9:04) Page
  - Review Questions (S8) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 9: What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Private News Media versus Government-run Media?
  - Video (4:29) Page
  - Review Questions (S9) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 10: What Are the Strengths of What Is Currently Available to Citizens through the Media?
  - Video (3:23) Page
  - Review Questions Part 1 (S10-1) Quiz
  - Review Questions Part 2 (S10-2) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 11: What Are the Weaknesses of What Is Currently Available to Citizens through the Media?
  - Video (5:44) Page
  - Review Questions (S11) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 12: What Percentage of Americans Listen to Talk Radio That Is Focused on Political Issues?
  - Video (3:57) Page
  - Review Questions (S12) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 13: What Are the Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Media in the United States?
  - Video (3:38) Page
  - Review Questions (S13) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Question 3 Forum
  - Section 14: How Is Social Media Transforming the World of Politics?
  - Video (5:50) Page
  - Review Questions (S14) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 15: What Proposals Have Been Made to Enhance the Strengths of Social Media and Diminish Its Weaknesses?
  - Video (7:52) Page
  - Review Questions (S15) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 16: What Type of Fact-checking Resources Are Available to the Average Citizen?
  - Video (1:38) Page
  - Review Questions (S16) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Section 17: What Additional Information about the Media and the Political Process Is Important for People to Know?
  - Video (3:34) Page
  - Review Questions (S17) Quiz
  - Discussion and research questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum

What Are Some of the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Media in the Political Process?

Introduction

Section 1: What Is the Importance to Democracy of People’s Access to Alternative Sources of Information?

Section 2: What Limitations Are Placed by Government on the Press in the United States?

Section 3: What Impediments Are There to Freedom of the Press in the United States?

Section 4: How Free of Government Regulation Is the Media in the United States in Comparison with the Media in Other Advanced Democracies?

Section 5: What Is the Difference between Government-run and Government-supported Media?

Section 6: What Examples of Government-run and Government-supported Media Exist in Other Advanced Democracies?

Section 7: Under What Conditions Might Government-run or Government-supported Media Actually Be Beneficial?

Section 8: What Safeguards Exist to Prevent Government Use of Media to Manipulate Public Opinion?

Section 9: What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Private News Media versus Government-run Media?

Section 10: What Are the Strengths of What Is Currently Available to Citizens through the Media?

Section 11: What Are the Weaknesses of What Is Currently Available to Citizens through the Media?

Section 12: What Percentage of Americans Listen to Talk Radio That Is Focused on Political Issues?

Section 13: What Are the Strengths and Weaknesses of Social Media in the United States?

Section 14: How Is Social Media Transforming the World of Politics?

Section 15: What Proposals Have Been Made to Enhance the Strengths of Social Media and Diminish Its Weaknesses?

Section 16: What Type of Fact-checking Resources Are Available to the Average Citizen?

Section 17: What Additional Information about the Media and the Political Process Is Important for People to Know?