Past Exam QuestionsPast Exam Questions

• ““Mass media coverage can make or Mass media coverage can make or break a campaign.” Assess this break a campaign.” Assess this statement with reference to any statement with reference to any campaign designed to influence campaign designed to influence political decision making.political decision making.

• Referring to a campaign you know, Referring to a campaign you know, evaluate the role of the media in evaluate the role of the media in contributing to its success or failure. contributing to its success or failure.

• ““The media is too powerful in setting The media is too powerful in setting the political agenda in the United the political agenda in the United Kingdom”. Evaluate this campaign Kingdom”. Evaluate this campaign using examples.using examples.

Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

To define the mass mediaTo define the mass media To explore the different types of To explore the different types of

mediamedia To evaluate the power of the mass To evaluate the power of the mass

mediamedia

What is the mass media?What is the mass media?

Television news Television news RadioRadio NewspapersNewspapers InternetInternet MagazinesMagazines

The Daily Star Front The Daily Star Front PagePage

The Times Front PageThe Times Front Page

At least three At least three people have been people have been killed in a suicide killed in a suicide attack on a bakery attack on a bakery in the popular in the popular Israeli Red Sea Israeli Red Sea resort of Eilatresort of Eilat

Tabloids v BroadsheetsTabloids v Broadsheets

BroadsheetsBroadsheets

The GuardianThe Guardian

The TelegraphThe Telegraph

The Financial TimesThe Financial Times

The TimesThe Times

The IndependentThe Independent

TabloidsTabloids

The SunThe Sun

The MirrorThe Mirror

The Daily StarThe Daily Star

The ExpressThe Express

The MailThe Mail

The power of the mediaThe power of the media

Consensual ModelConsensual Model The media offer a narrow range of opinion The media offer a narrow range of opinion

on political issues.on political issues. The media is dominated by middle aged, The media is dominated by middle aged,

middle class, Southern males.middle class, Southern males. There is a bias in the content of the There is a bias in the content of the

media.media. There is a cosy union between journalists, There is a cosy union between journalists,

reporters and policy makers.reporters and policy makers. The media reflect the dominant groups The media reflect the dominant groups

interests when it comes to politics.interests when it comes to politics. Those who own the media have close ties Those who own the media have close ties

to the Government.to the Government.

Pluralist ModelPluralist Model There is a balance in reporting of events in the There is a balance in reporting of events in the

media.media. The media reflect a variety of views.The media reflect a variety of views. Newspapers are biased but newspapers have Newspapers are biased but newspapers have

different views so there is a balance.different views so there is a balance. Television and radio must be balanced at election Television and radio must be balanced at election

time.time. The internet allows access to a range of opinions.The internet allows access to a range of opinions. The media is a business and has to sell The media is a business and has to sell

newspapers. Appealing to the public is more newspapers. Appealing to the public is more important than anything else.important than anything else.

Gun Control NetworkGun Control NetworkA media driven campaignA media driven campaign

AIMSAIMS Minimum age of 18 for the ownership, use and Minimum age of 18 for the ownership, use and

possession of all guns.possession of all guns. Ban on the sale, manufacture and import of all Ban on the sale, manufacture and import of all

imitation guns and their possession in a public place. imitation guns and their possession in a public place. Certification of all deactivated weapons.Certification of all deactivated weapons. Inclusion of airguns in certification system.Inclusion of airguns in certification system. One certification system for all legal weapons i.e. One certification system for all legal weapons i.e.

rifles, shotguns, airguns.rifles, shotguns, airguns. Multi-shot rifles and shotguns to be banned.Multi-shot rifles and shotguns to be banned. Practical or Combat shooting or any other shooting Practical or Combat shooting or any other shooting

practice which involves the simulation of real life practice which involves the simulation of real life situations and/or the use of human shaped targets to situations and/or the use of human shaped targets to be banned.be banned.

DunblaneDunblane

The The Gun Control NetworkGun Control Network was was established in the wake of the established in the wake of the horrific murders in Dunblane. It was horrific murders in Dunblane. It was set up by a group that included set up by a group that included academics, lawyers and the parents academics, lawyers and the parents of victims killed in Hungerford and of victims killed in Hungerford and Dunblane Dunblane

Achievements Achievements see www.gun-control-see www.gun-control-

network.orgnetwork.org In February 1997 John Major’s Conservative government In February 1997 John Major’s Conservative government

introduced legislation to ban handguns over .22 calibre and in introduced legislation to ban handguns over .22 calibre and in November 1997, the new Labour government extended the ban November 1997, the new Labour government extended the ban to cover all handguns. to cover all handguns.

Internet Gun SalesInternet Gun Sales GCN members monitor the advertising and sale of guns on the GCN members monitor the advertising and sale of guns on the

internet, an insufficiently regulated loophole through which internet, an insufficiently regulated loophole through which weapons can easily fall into the wrong hands.  GCN alerted e-weapons can easily fall into the wrong hands.  GCN alerted e-Bay to the fact that despite company policy gun sales were Bay to the fact that despite company policy gun sales were taking place through its auction site.  Subsequent discussions taking place through its auction site.  Subsequent discussions with e-Bay staff have ensured that the company has improved with e-Bay staff have ensured that the company has improved its policing procedures and the virtual elimination of all its policing procedures and the virtual elimination of all appearances of guns for sale on its site.appearances of guns for sale on its site.

Controls over Airgun SalesControls over Airgun Sales Along with other campaigners GCN members have been Along with other campaigners GCN members have been

lobbying the Government to place more restrictions on the lobbying the Government to place more restrictions on the availability and use of air weapons.  The Violent Crime availability and use of air weapons.  The Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006 now requires that the purchase of all Reduction Act 2006 now requires that the purchase of all airguns must be through registered dealers.airguns must be through registered dealers.