What This Document Is
This is a study guide designed to help students prepare for the first midterm exam in Belmont University’s Politics & Mass Media (PSC 3240) course. It focuses on core concepts related to the relationship between mass media and political processes, drawing from assigned readings. The guide is structured around key questions and concepts from the course materials.
Why This Document Matters
This study guide is essential for students enrolled in PSC 3240 who are preparing for their first midterm. It helps focus study efforts by identifying the most important topics and questions covered in the assigned readings. Utilizing this guide can improve exam performance by ensuring a strong grasp of foundational concepts. It’s most useful when used *in conjunction with* the original course readings.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This study guide is not a substitute for reading and understanding the full articles and chapter. It provides prompts and key terms, but does not offer complete explanations or analyses. Students will still need to engage with the source material to fully prepare for the exam. This preview does not include answers to the questions posed within the guide.
What This Document Provides
The full study guide includes:
* Key questions related to Kathleen Jamieson and Paul Waldman’s “The Press as Storyteller,” focusing on narrative, journalistic truth, and the availability heuristic.
* An outline of the differences between journalistic myths and realities as presented by Jarol Manheim in “The News Shapers.”
* Questions regarding Graber and Dunaway’s discussion of the four functions of media (Surveillance, Interpretation, Socialization, and Manipulation), including definitions and examples.
* A comparison of assumptions about media roles in authoritarian and democratic regimes, based on Table 1-2 from the Graber and Dunaway chapter.
* A reminder to know the thesis, or main point, of each assigned article.
This preview only provides a high-level overview of the guide’s contents. It does not include the answers to the study questions or detailed explanations of the concepts.