4.2 Discovery Education - Making Informed Decisions.

Too little contributions is not the problem. It's the fraud, waste, and abuse in our city government that has led us to the brink of financial disaster. What propaganda technique is used in this editorial?

Blaming the problem on something else OR blaming a Scapegoat.

Engaged citizens use specific strategies to evaluate the information they receive from different forms of media.

Distinguish between fact and opinion. Recognize bias and propaganda. Evaluate sources to recognize the strengths and limitations of their sources of information.

Mass Media

Forms of communication that can reach large audiences. Examples include radio, newspapers, television, and the Internet.

To govern themselves effectively, citizens must utilize a set of skills. Citizens should be able to:

Formulate meaningful questions. Analyze information from a variety of sources. Express and defend a position. Practice thoughtful decision-making.

Citizens choose the best solution to an issue by following these steps.

Identify the problem. Identify policy alternatives. Use cost-benefit analysis glossary term (opens in a new window)to evaluate alternatives. Formulate and implement a policy solution. Analyze the results.

The media plays an important role in a democracy.

It is how citizens can gather news and information. Citizens then use this news to make informed decisions about their government.

The earliest form of Mass Media was . . . .

Newspapers

A biased analysis of a situation.

Only presents one side or opinion on a subject.

Objective reporting means

Only stating the facts, not opinions, and not being supported by any of the Political Parties. It is OBJECTIVE.

There are limits to the media's influence.

Some of these limitations include: short, summary-based news reports; increasing use of media as entertainment; and Americans' disengagement with the political process.

Fact

a thing that is known or proved to be true.

Opinion

a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.