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Media Limitations and Benefits Graphic Organizer

Help students analyze how different news media and communication outlets influence the dissemination of political information.

Guiding Questions 

  • What is the media?
  • How have the ways citizens acquire information about government changed over time?
  • What role do news media play in politics​ in terms of affecting election outcomes​?

Objectives 

  • I can analyze how different ​news ​media and communication outlets influence the dissemination of political information.
  • I can evaluate the impact of media on public political engagement and decision-making.

Directions: Complete the chart​. B​e sure to follow any specific directions given by your teacher.

  • Limitations include anywhere the media type falls short of delivering information to citizens. ​Benefits​ ​include ​how ​it​ helps get information to citizens.
  • Rank the ​media ​types​ from​ most effective to least effective in fulfilling the role of assisting citizens in making informed, responsible decisions and holding government accountable to the laws and ​the ​people. Defend your choices.

Media

​Type

How People Receive Information

Limitations and ​Benefits

Rank and Defend

Newspaper

Usually printed weekly or daily, local or regional news included with wider scope (state, national, or world)

Limitations: can be expensive, more available in bigger markets, to those that can read, news can outdate quickly, recaps an event after it occurs

​​Benefits: the newspaper itself can be shared easily between people, can serve as an announcement of upcoming events

Radio

Magazines

Television

Internet News

Social Media