This document discusses the relationship between public opinion and media influence. It explores whether the media reflects existing societal views or shapes them. Family, schools, peers, religion, and media all influence public opinion at different stages of life. Media exposure through TV, newspapers, radio and magazines has a constant, daily impact and can override other influences. The media is both a "mirror" that reflects culture and beliefs and a "molder" that changes the way people think. Images seen in media can evoke different reactions and influence opinions. Public opinion on social issues like family, race and sexuality have changed in the past 30 years, which may relate to changing media portrayals of these topics. The document prompts further research and analysis on

2. FOCUS QUESTION:
DOES THE MEDIA REFLECT SOCIETY OR
DOES SOCIETY REFLECT THE MEDIA?
•WHAT DOES THIS QUESTION MEAN?
• DOES IT “HOLD A MIRROR UP” AND REFLECT OUR OWN CULTURE AND BELIEFS?
• DO WE “SEE OURSELVES” WHEN WE CONSUME MEDIA OR ARE WE FORCED TO VIEW BEYOND OUR
FAMILIAR BUBBLE?
• ARE WE CHANGED BY WHAT WE SEE IN MEDIA?
• DOES IT SHAPE THE WAY WE THINK?

3. PUBLIC OPINION
•DEFINITION: IDEAS AND ATTITUDES SHARED BY A SIGNIFICANT
AMOUNT OF PEOPLE
•INFLUENCING FACTORS: FAMILY, SCHOOLS, PEERS, RELIGION, MEDIA
(TELEVISION, RADIO, MAGAZINES, NEWSPAPER, INTERNET)
•THINK ABOUT THIS- WHICH HAS THE GREATEST IMPACT ON YOUR
LIFE AT 6, 16, 26, 36…

4. PUBLIC OPINION: FAMILIAL INFLUENCE
•WE MIMIC WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR IN THE
HOME
•WE LOOK UP TO OUR PARENTS AND WANT TO
PLEASE THEM

5. PUBLIC OPINION: SCHOOL INFLUENCE
•WE LEARN ABOUT THE INTRICACIES OF
GOVERNMENT IN CIVICS, US HISTORY
•WE ARE TAUGHT PATRIOTISM AND PRIDE
IN A MUCH MORE REGIMENTED WAY
•WE ANALYZE HISTORIC EVENTS AND HOW
THEY SHAPE OUR WORLD

6. PUBLIC OPINION: PEER INFLUENCE
•WE LEARN HOW TO FIT IN
•HAIR, CLOTHES, MAKEUP, WHAT WE LISTEN
TO…
•WE FIND OUT WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
TO BE SHUNNED
•WE DRESS TO REFLECT OUR GROUP
•JOCK, PREP, EMO, NERD…

7. PUBLIC OPINION: RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
•WE LEARN WHAT TO VALUE IN OTHER
•WE FIND COMMONALITY
•WE ESTABLISH OUR MORALS

8. PUBLIC OPINION
• FAR LEFT- RADICAL
• FAVORS EXTREME CHANGE TO CREATE AN ALTERED OR ENTIRELY NEW SOCIAL SYSTEM
• LIBERAL
• BELIEVES THAT GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE ACTION TO CHANGE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND IDEOLOGICAL POLICIES
BELIEVED TO BE UNFAIR
• CENTRAL- MODERATE
• HOLDS BELIEFS THAT FALL BETWEEN LIBERAL AND CONSERVATIVE VIEWS
• CONSERVATIVE
• SEEKS TO KEEP IN PLACE THE ECONOMIC, POLITICAL, AND SOCIETAL STRUCTURES OF SOCIETY
• FAR RIGHT- REACTIONARY
• FAVORS EXTREME CHANGE TO RESTORE SOCIETY TO AN EARLIER, MORE CONSERVATIVE STATE

9. SO HOW DOES THE MEDIA AFFECT OUR OPINION?
•CONSTANT, DAILY EXPOSURE HAS LASTING IMPACT ON OUR LIVES
•CAN OVERRIDE FAMILY, PEERS, RELIGION
•OFTEN REFERRED TO AS THE “MIRRORS” AS WELL AS THE “MOLDERS”
OF OPINION
•COMES IN A VARIETY OF MEDIUM- MEANS OF COMMUNICATION
• TV, NEWSPAPER, RADIO, MAGAZINES

10. CONSIDER THIS: IMAGES AFFECT ATTITUDE
How would these images evoke different reactions?
Is this the media influencing our opinion?

11. CONSIDER THIS: IMAGES AFFECT ATTITUDE
During the presidential debates of 1960, JFK had the calm presence of a
seasoned television personality while Nixon kept wiping sweat off his face,
making him appear as the stereotypical “bad guy” we’d see in a movie.
Is this the media influencing our opinion? Radio listeners polled more favorable to NixonTV viewers polled more favorable to Kennedy

12. CONSIDER THIS:
• HOW HAS OUR OPINION OF SOCIAL ISSUES CHANGED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS?
family

13. CONSIDER THIS:
• HOW HAS OUR OPINION OF SOCIAL ISSUES CHANGED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS?
race

14. CONSIDER THIS:
• HOW HAS OUR OPINION OF SOCIAL ISSUES CHANGED IN THE PAST 30 YEARS?
sexuality

15. YOU TURN
CONDUCT YOUR OWN RESEARCH TO ANSWER THIS QUESTION:
DOES THE MEDIA REFLECT SOCIETY OR DOES SOCIETY
REFLECT THE MEDIA
CONSIDER BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE. ARE WE CHANGED BY OUR EXPOSURE TO
THE MEDIA OR DOES THE MEDIA CHANGE BECAUSE WE AS A SOCIETY CHANGE?
Post your analysis to your blog