The lesson focused on analyzing political media and its influence. Students learned how to examine clips for bias, understand the message being conveyed, and consider how the clip aims to shape public opinion. They practiced this by analyzing several video clips and discussing how the media can both positively and negatively impact politics through influencing voters and officials.

1. Warm-Up
Read and answer the questions on the front of your
notes packet.
Before you answer them, circle the actors and
underline the actions.

2. Warm-Up
Read and answer the questions on the front of your
notes packet.
Before you answer them, circle the actors and
underline the actions.

3. Warm-Up
In some eastern Arizona counties, the largest
segment of the population is under 18 years of age.
By contrast, in some western counties of Arizona, a
large segment of the population is 65 years or older.
Based on the information above, what would political
candidates likely focus to gain support from citizens
in eastern Arizona.
A.increase funding on higher education institutions
B.support medicaid/medicare funding
C.increase social security income
D.protecting the rights of migrant farmworkers

4. Warm-Up
The United States Census Bureau projects that the
percentage of people over 85 years old will triple in
the next fifty years.
What federal government action could best help the
United States adjust to this demographic trend?
A.
granting college scholarships to low-income students
B.
providing low-interest loans to first-time home buyers
C. increasing the minimum wage
D. funding health care services

5. Warm-Up
Which of these is an example of lobbying by a
special interest group?
A. A hotel association develops a plan to attract more
tourists.
B. An animal rights organization presents its views to a
legislator.
C. A group of citizens asks city officials for a schedule of
public hearings.
D.A neighborhood association backs a group of
candidates for an election.

6. Warm-Up
Which action would a special interest group take to
gain support for a law proposed in Congress?
A. meet with representatives to educate them about the
bill
B. present the groupʼs position in lawsuits heard in court
C. donate money to a presidential re-election campaign
D. endorse political party candidates for the state
legislature

7. Objective
Students will analyze political media
excerpts in order to examine the impact of
media coverage on politics, including voters
and government officials.

8. Agenda
• Objective and Warm-Up
• INM: Why is media important to politics?
• GP: How to analyze the media
• IP: Media analysis
• Exit Slip

9. Agenda
• Objective and Warm-Up
• INM: Why is media important to politics?
• GP: How to analyze the media
• IP: Media analysis
• Exit Slip

11. Today’s lesson is brought to you
without commercial interruption by
the following...

13. What is media?
• Media is a product that provides
the general public with
information.
• Newspapers, magazines, radio,
television, and the internet are all
considered media.
• It has tremendous influence on
public opinion and the political
process.

14. What role does media play in government?

15. What role does media play in government?
• The media is often referred to as the fourth
branch of government for numerous reasons,
such as the following:

16. What role does media play in government?
• The media is often referred to as the fourth
branch of government for numerous reasons,
such as the following:
• it greatly influences public opinion

17. What role does media play in government?
• The media is often referred to as the fourth
branch of government for numerous reasons,
such as the following:
• it greatly influences public opinion
• it limits the power of government officials
because it is constantly reporting on their
every move

18. What role does media play in government?
• The media is often referred to as the fourth
branch of government for numerous reasons,
such as the following:
• it greatly influences public opinion
• it limits the power of government officials
because it is constantly reporting on their
every move
• what media chooses to focus on can greatly
impact which issues people care about

19. How can media affect public opinion?

20. How can media affect public opinion?
• Not only does the media
report on the practices of
government, but it also
provides analysis.

21. How can media affect public opinion?
• Not only does the media
report on the practices of
government, but it also
provides analysis.
• Sometimes this analysis is
critical, or biased towards
particular political parties
or individuals.

22. How can media affect public opinion?
• Not only does the media
report on the practices of
government, but it also
provides analysis.
• Sometimes this analysis is
critical, or biased towards
particular political parties
or individuals.
• It also changes the way
that individuals view
particular issues.

23. How can media affect public opinion?
• Not only does the media
report on the practices of
government, but it also
provides analysis.
• Sometimes this analysis is
critical, or biased towards
particular political parties
or individuals.
• It also changes the way
that individuals view
particular issues.

24. What are the positive effects of media?

25. What are the positive effects of media?
• Regular citizens have more opportunities to
inform themselves.

26. What are the positive effects of media?
• Regular citizens have more opportunities to
inform themselves.
• The power of government officials is kept in
check.

27. What are the positive effects of media?
• Regular citizens have more opportunities to
inform themselves.
• The power of government officials is kept in
check.
• People can be informed voters because they
develop a better understanding of issues and
candidates.

28. What are the positive effects of media?

29. What are the positive effects of media?

30. What are the positive effects of media?
+

31. What are the positive effects of media?
+

32. What are the positive effects of media?
+ =

33. What are the positive effects of media?
+ =

34. What are the negative effects of media?

35. What are the negative effects of media?
• Voters may not vote at all because news
organizations have predicted the winners of
elections.

36. What are the negative effects of media?
• Voters may not vote at all because news
organizations have predicted the winners of
elections.
• People may receive inaccurate information,
and make poor choices as a result.

37. What are the negative effects of media?
• Voters may not vote at all because news
organizations have predicted the winners of
elections.
• People may receive inaccurate information,
and make poor choices as a result.
• Candidates or political parties with more
money and power could possibly influence
news networks.

38. Can government limit the freedom of press?

39. Can government limit the freedom of press?
• Yes, it absolutely can when the
media does one of the following:

40. Can government limit the freedom of press?
• Yes, it absolutely can when the
media does one of the following:
• When media prints government
secrets that might threaten
national security.

41. Can government limit the freedom of press?
• Yes, it absolutely can when the
media does one of the following:
• When media prints government
secrets that might threaten
national security.
• When media prints stories that
could threaten the safety of the
general public.

42. Can government limit the freedom of press?
• Yes, it absolutely can when the
media does one of the following:
• When media prints government
secrets that might threaten
national security.
• When media prints stories that
could threaten the safety of the
general public.
• When media prints stories that are
inaccurate, or false, about public
officials (this concept is called libel)

43. Bust out the clickers please.
It’s time to check for understanding.

44. What is libel?
A. When media criticizes public officials
B. When media publishes false information
about public officials
C. When media shares government secrets
that might threaten the safety of Americans
D. When media breaks a story that know one
has heard before

45. What is an example of something the Media
CANNOT say.
A.“President Obama stalls at passing health care
reform bill”
B.“Local official arrested for driving while drunk,
trial pending”
C.“Senator McConnell voted no on welfare reform.
This shows he doesnʼt care about low income
people.”
D.“Americaʼs secret stash of weapons is located at
1410 Nye Street, Capitol Heights, MD.”

46. Which of the following is sometimes called the
fourth branch of government?
A. Political parties
B. Interest Groups
C. Lobbyists
D. Media

47. Why is Media sometimes called the fourth branch
of government?
A.because it criticizes elected officials
B.because it influences citizens opinions and votes
C.because it is every where
D.because the government protects freedom of
press

48. What is a negative aspect of media during
campaigns and elections?
A.Media may predict winners on election day
based on exit polls
B.Media shares information about the candidatesʼ
views
C.Media shares information about votersʼ views.
D.Media may criticize some candidates for what
they say and do during the campaign.

49. Is Freedom of Press always protected?
A.Yes
B.No

50. HOMEWORK
Complete the reading for today’s lesson,
U3.LP6, and complete the associated
questions.
Also, begin to study your exit slips for your
Unit 3 assessment. It will be next week.

51. Guided Practice

52. Guided Practice
Today we are going to analyze political media, in
order to better understand how it can influence
the opinions of people.

53. Guided Practice
Today we are going to analyze political media, in
order to better understand how it can influence
the opinions of people.

54. Instructions

55. Instructions
- You will see a video clip, and be asked to answer four
basic questions.

56. Instructions
- You will see a video clip, and be asked to answer four
basic questions.
- You will turn and talk with your neighbor in order to
answer each of the questions AFTER the clip has finished.

57. Instructions
- You will see a video clip, and be asked to answer four
basic questions.
- You will turn and talk with your neighbor in order to
answer each of the questions AFTER the clip has finished.
- You will then be called upon to share out your thoughts
with the class.

58. Instructions
- You will see a video clip, and be asked to answer four
basic questions.
- You will turn and talk with your neighbor in order to
answer each of the questions AFTER the clip has finished.
- You will then be called upon to share out your thoughts
with the class.
- We will then have a quick and meaningful discussion
where you must participate.

59. Instructions
- You will see a video clip, and be asked to answer four
basic questions.
- You will turn and talk with your neighbor in order to
answer each of the questions AFTER the clip has finished.
- You will then be called upon to share out your thoughts
with the class.
- We will then have a quick and meaningful discussion
where you must participate.

60. Clip #1 The 2000 Election
1. Is there bias? Yes or No.
2. Why do you think there is bias? What actions or words demonstrated bias?
3. What are the people in the clip trying to get the general public to think?
4. How does this clip make you feel?

61. Clip #2 Jon Stewart talks about the protest... Hannity apologizes
1. Is there bias? Yes or No.
2. Why do you think there is bias? What actions or words demonstrated bias?
3. What are the people in the clip trying to get the general public to think?
4. How does this clip make you feel?

62. Independent Practice

63. Independent Practice
• You will complete the same activity for each
of the following video clips.

64. Clip #3 Glenn Beck on Obama
1. Is there bias? Yes or No.
2. Why do you think there is bias? What actions or words demonstrated bias?
3. What are the people in the clip trying to get the general public to think?
4. How does this clip make you feel?

65. Clip #4 Rachel Maddow on Prop 8
1. Is there bias? Yes or No.
2. Why do you think there is bias? What actions or words demonstrated bias?
3. What are the people in the clip trying to get the general public to think?
4. How does this clip make you feel?

66. Independent Practice

67. Independent Practice
• Get out your own sheet of paper to continue
with our activity today.

68. Clip #5 Hannity on Obamaʼs Patriotism... Obamaʼs actual thoughts.
1. Is there bias? Yes or No.
2. Why do you think there is bias? What actions or words demonstrated bias?
3. What are the people in the clip trying to get the general public to think?
4. How does this clip make you feel?

69. Clip #6 The Attack on Christmas
1. Is there bias? Yes or No.
2. Why do you think there is bias? What actions or words demonstrated bias?
3. What are the people in the clip trying to get the general public to think?
4. How does this clip make you feel?

70. Independent Practice

71. Independent Practice
• On the back side of your sheet of paper,
complete the following half-page free write:

72. Independent Practice
• On the back side of your sheet of paper,
complete the following half-page free write:
• Why does media matter in politics?

73. Exit Slip:
1. You will have 5 minutes to complete today’s exit
slip.
2. Please only write the letter of your answer in the
appropriate blank.
3. Complete it in silence.
4. When you are done, carefully check over your
answers.
5. After checking your answers, please begin your
homework.

74. 3, 2, 1, See Ya!
What are 3 things that you learned today?
What are 2 things that confused you?
What is 1 thing you want to know more
about?