Lecture 02 - The Political Contest Model

Front 1

What are the five principles of the political contest model?

Back 1

(1) Politics comes first

(2) PMP Cycle -or- Politics influences media influences politics and so on

(3) The Role of the media varies over time and circumstances

(4) Media makes unequal conflicts more equal

(5) Structural competition over access

Front 2

What are the three reasons that the political process is more likely to influence the media than vice-versa?

Back 2

(1) The media reacts to the political process, not the other way around

(2) Political and cultural context have major impact on how news stories are constructed

(3) Government laws and operations determine how media will operate

Front 3

How can the role of media in politics be understood?

Back 3

As one in which variations in political environments have an impact on media practices which then have a subsequent effect on political processes. More simply, this is the PMP Cycle.

Front 4

Give an example of variations of news media coverage over time, in relation to minority groups.

Back 4

Using more black people in the news legitimizes the minority, which changes peoples' overall perceptions of black people.

Front 5

What is the rally around the flag syndrome?

Back 5

This is when people do something specifically to spite the opposition; for example, people who don't have strong feelings for Obama would still vote for him specifically because they don't want Romney to win.

Front 6

What is a dominant frame?

Back 6

A frame used by the news media that everyone supports

Front 7

What is a contestant frame?

Back 7

A frame used by the news media that has both supporters and opposers

Front 8

Why is the European press more hostile towards Israel than the American press?

Back 8

Because European countries are more hostile toward Israel, and therefore those views are reflected in their media.

Front 9

The media can also have a subsequent and independent impact on political processes due to...

Back 9

they ways in which they select and transform political events into stories.

Front 10

The ways in which different types of media carry out these transformations can be understood by...

Back 10

examining how media environments vary over time and culture.

Front 11

Media doesn't just reflect changes; it has...

Back 11

an active way of transforming politics for its own interest.

Front 12

What is sensationalist media?

Back 12

A way of framing the media where the news is presented as something to get emotional about; mainly angry. This frame is used in Israel.

Front 13

"Media doesn't merely reflect changes, it has an active way of transforming politics for its own interest." Give an example of this relating to Israel and the United Kingdom.

Back 13

Israel uses a sensationalist media frame while the United Kingdom's news media is presented in a much calmer way. Therefore, the same story presented in these two news mediums will be presented differently because of the cultural differences between the two places.

Front 14

The example on the previous flashcard shows how media can...

Back 14

vary across cultures.

Front 15

In addition to varying across cultures, news media can vary...

Back 15

in levels of new media usage and in levels of sensationalism.

Front 16

Some media environments can also have an especially negative and cynical view of politicians. What is an example of a kind of journalism in this media environment?

Back 16

"Gotcha Journalism", where criticising people becomes a highlight of the news.

Front 17

The role of the media varies over time and circumstances. Name three different roles for the media.

Back 17

(1) Media as a government servant

(2) Media as an advocate for the weak

(3) Media as a semi-honest broker

Front 18

What does "media as a government servant" mean? When is this the role of the media?

Back 18

The media works as a tool of the government to get their message across to the people, preferably in the government's preferred frame. This is the role of the media in many cases, but especially during times of crisis and war.

Front 19

What does "media as an advocate for the weak" mean?

Back 19

The media works to help those who are not holding political power to be heard. This role is used to support popular protests, such as the social justice movement.

Front 20

What does "media as a semi-honest broker" mean?

Back 20

The media reacts to official initiatives; it is not completely neutral.

Front 21

Does the media ever assume just one role at a time?

Back 21

No, it is a hegemony.

Front 22

What are the three ways in which the authorities keep control over the political environment?

Back 22

(1) Control over events

(2) Control over the flow of information

(3) Level of success in mobilizing political consensus in support of policies

Front 23

Those who hope to understand the role of media in politics must look at the competition among antagonists along what two dimensions?

Back 23

Structural and Cultural

Front 24

What is the structural dimension concerned with?

Back 24

The contest over access.

Front 25

How is the structural dimension primarily a "business-like" transaction?

Back 25

Because publicity is exchanged for newsworthy information and events.

Front 26

What is the cultural dimension concerned with?

Back 26

Competition over ideological frames and meaning.

Front 27

The cultural dimension is primarily a question of what two things?

Back 27

Social values and norms.

Front 28

What is the political contest model used for?

Back 28

To provide a useful analytical tool for understanding the role of the media in politics.

Front 29

What is the underlying theme of the political contest model?

Back 29

That one cannot understand the competition over the news media without seeing it within a larger contest for political power.