Week 9 & 10 we will be talking about The Media and its relation to POLITICS and GOVERNMENT.

I think this is an extremely important topic that we should cover thoroughly, so please take the time to review the assigned material and take notes so you can contribute during our Live Video Conferences.

Assigned Online Video - Five Filters of Mass Media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34LGPIXvU5M

What are the Five Filters of the Mass Media Machine?
Who is Noam Chomsky?
What is Al Jazeera?

What is message framing?
Regarding truthful information - does it matter WHEN the information is released OR simply that it is factual?

The importance of the assigned content is the following:

Throughout the semester we have been discussing the evolution of GOVERNMENT and how PEOPLE are GOVERNED. We have discussed the idea of POLITICS and differences in BELIEFS pertaining to how GOVERNMENT should function.

We have also been talking about the interconnection of things.

There is a connection between the three branches of our federal government. The idea is that there is a system of checks and balances which prevents a concentration of power in one specific branch.
There is a connection between Local - State - National governments. This is the idea of Federalism, and it divides power and function across different levels with each level being responsible for different duties. However, as discussed in Chapter 2 and 3, there is a lot of merging between State and National governments.
There is a connection between Governments on a GLOBAL Scale. Keep in mind the 4 Elements of a Nation State. 1. Government; 2. People; 3. Borders; 4. Sovereignty. The last - sovereignty - is established through the international community.
There is an economic connection between Nations of the World. One nation is dependent on another nation for goods and services. Sometimes - as in the case with this Corona Virus - this interdependence breaks down. For instance, the Western world experienced drastic shortages in medical supplies during the pandemic due to a heavy reliance on other countries which make the majority of said medical devices.
There is a connection between GOVERNMENT and MEDIA. This one is incredibly important to be aware of - especially in the digital age. How we consume media; how and who distributes information to the masses; and how that information influences the public to act (i.e., purchase or vote a certain way.)

Understanding the connection between these things will help you become an informed consumer of media, news and political information; and, hopefully provide a deeper understanding of the complex inter-connected system of Government + Economy + Information.