Explain the four functions of the modern media.

What will be an ideal response?


The modern media effectively perform four significant roles: those of signaler, common-carrier, watchdog, and partisan advocate. The signaling role requires the press to bring relevant events and problems into public view. In its common-carrier role, the press serves as a channel through which political leaders can address the public. The watchdog role requires the press to scrutinize official behavior and uncover evidence of deception, carelessness, or corruption. Finally, the press functions as a partisan advocate. Although the traditional media perform this last function to a degree, the newer media (radio and tv talks shows, certain Internet sites and blogs) specialize in it.

Political Science

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Rewarding faithful party workers with government employment is called

A. nepotism. B. pork barrel employment. C. executive perks. D. patronage. E. civil service.

Political Science

In the past few decades, local governments have had to rely more on indirect federal subsidies, e.g., tax increment financing, for economic development

Indicate whether this statement is true or false.

Political Science

Lack of confidence in government is attributed to

A. the troubled roll-out of the Affordable Care Act in 2013 B. the inept response to Hurricane Katrina C. Gridlock within Congress D. All of the above

Political Science

Why is polling people via the Internet likely to produce a nonrandom sample?

a. Not all people who are part of a prospective random sample own cellphones. b. Not all people who are part of a prospective random sample own computers. c. Not all people who are part of a prospective random sample will answer open-ended questions. d. Not all people who are part of a prospective random sample have opinions on issues of interest to researchers.

Political Science