Media & influence

• Explain what is meant by public opinion, with one reason why it is important.

  • Public opinion is the range of views held by the population in a country about what should be done. It is important because politicians in a democratic society need to represent their constituents and make their policies attractive to voters.
• Influencing Public Opinion

  • Media shapes how people view political and social issues.
  • Public opinion can influence government decisions.
  • Politicians use media to test how the public might react to policies.
• Groups and Individuals

  • Use media (especially social media) to raise awareness or change laws.
  • Campaigns can go viral, reaching a wide audience quickly.
  • Example: Facebook petition with over 250,000 signatures.
• Government and Those in Power

  • Politicians use media to promote themselves and their policies.
  • Spin doctors and PR teams work to control how news is presented.
  • Government might try to influence how the media covers issues.
• Social Media

  • Allows direct communication between politicians and the public.
  • Used for campaigning, sharing opinions, and responding to events.
  • Quick way to spread information — or misinformation.