MASS MEDIA & INTEREST GROUPSFor use with sections 11.2 & 11.3

ROLES OF THE MEDIA

1. Coverage of Candidates news coverage is free publicity makes it easier to get in the news and

your views on issues known makes it easier for voters to learn

about the candidates

ROLES OF THE MEDIA

2. Public Opinion influencing public opinion by making

issues more apparent gives politicians an idea of how the

public feels on an issue when they react to a leak

ROLES OF THE MEDIA

3. Watchdog reports on the wrong doings and

corruption of politicians helps the people know what

government officials are up to therefore forcing them to be more honest

HOW DOES THE FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECT THE MEDIA FROM GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH? The First Amendment protection of

freedom of speech protects the media from prior restraint. This means that the government cannot censor material before it is published. This is sometimes called a “gag order.”

WHAT WAS THE CASE NEW YORK TIMES V. SULLIVAN ABOUT AND WHAT PRECEDENT DID IT SET? The case New York Times v. Sullivan, a government

official, sued the New York Times newspaper for libel (deliberately printing false information to harm one’s reputation). The Supreme Court ruled that in order to prove libel, the plaintiff must be able to prove malice (evil intent). In other words, there must be proof that the publisher knew what they were printing was false.

The precedent (or rule that has been held ever since this case) is that in order to win a lawsuit over libel, the plaintiff must be able to show evidence that the publisher know what they were printing was false – this is not easy to prove

INTEREST GROUPS

1. Economic Interest Groups some of the most powerful interest groups represent types of businesses or workers

Examples: Chamber of Commerce – promotes free enterprise Tobacco Institute – represents cigarette

manufacturers AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress

of Industrial Organizations) – alliance of labor unions American Medical Association (AMA) – represents

doctors

INTEREST GROUPS

2. Social Issues Interest Groups organized to promote an ethnic group, age group, or gender

Examples: National Association for the Advancement of Colored

People (NAACP) – to improve the lives of African Americans

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) – the interests of older Americans

Sierra Club – protecting nature National Rifle Association (NRA) – interest of gun

owners

INTEREST GROUPS

3. Public Interest Groups work to benefit society as a whole through causes

that will affect the lives of Americans in general

Examples: League of Women Voters – educates voters

(not just women) about candidates and issues American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – works

to protect the Constitutional rights and freedom of Americans

INTEREST GROUPS

Influencing Government Through…1. Elections

interest groups will support candidates that share the same view(s) on their issue(s)

2. Going to Court interest groups will sue in court individuals who engage

in actions contrary to the groups ideas

3. Lobbying interest groups hire people who go to government to

meet with government officials and give information about their issue in an effort to have them vote on bills that are favorable to the interest group’s cause

WHAT CONCERNS DO CRITICS OF LOBBYING AND INTEREST GROUPS HAVE?

They are concerned that interest groups will have an exaggerated amount of influence over government because of the number of members and amount of money they can raise.