Name: ______________________________!

Mod: ________
Date: _______________________________! U3.LP6.Media Homework

Mass media denotes a section of the media specifically designed to reach a large audience. The term
was coined in the 1920s with the advent of nationwide radio networks, mass-circulation newspapers
and magazines. However, some forms of mass media such as books and manuscripts had already
been in use for centuries.

Mass media includes Internet media (like blogs, message boards, podcasts, and video sharing).
People have more access to media than any other time in history. This means that people can always
get information and opinions can be influenced by media in multiple ways.

Stop and Jot: Define Media: ______________________________________________________

Give three examples of Media:
1. ___________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

3. ___________________________________________________________________________

Media is required for a strong democratic society. Media provides information to people so that they
can form opinions based on facts. People will have differing opinions partly because of what they
hear in different media sources. Differing opinions are good for democracy because it means that
elected officials will try to appeal to differ voters opinions. These differences started at the beginning
of our Country when the Federalist and Antifederalist disagreed with each other about how much
power the federal government should have.

In order to be informed voters, citizens need to know what is happening in their country and around
the world and what their representatives are doing or not doing about the problems. Informed voters
are essential to a strong democracy because people choice is then based on candidatesʼ opinions
and their work rather than a popularity contest.

Stop and Jot: What is needed for a strong democratic society:___________________________

Explain 2 reasons why media is needed in a democratic society:
1. ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________
The First Amendment says in part that “Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom... of the
press.” The guarantee of this freedom is fundamental to democracy.

Thomas Jefferson described the importance of a free press when he argued: “The people are the
only censors of their governors... The only safeguard of the public liberty... is to give them full
information of their affiars through the channel of the public papers and to contrive that those papers
should penetrate the whole mass of the people.” - Thomas Jefferson, 1787

Freedom of press, however, is not absolute. False written statements intended to damage a personʼs
reputation are called libel.

People who believe that falsehoods in a published story have damaged their careers or reputations
may sue for libel. However it is almost impossible for a public official to win a libel suit. The reason, in
part, is because there is no law against criticizing government officials.

Stop and Jot: What does the First Amendment protect:_________________________________

Explain 2 reasons why we need a Free Press:
1. ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Explain what type of speech is not protected?:_________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Why do you think its hard to win a libel case?:________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Stop and Jot: What is something you found interesting about todayʼs lesson?
_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

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