Homeless History: AP Government - The Role of Media as a Linkage Institution

Introduction

Focus: Media's role as a linkage institution in AP Government curriculum (Unit 5)
Definition: Linkage institution connects people to government or political processes
Other linkage institutions: Political parties, interest groups, elections

Media types: Traditional (newspapers, television) and new outlets (social media)
Importance of free press in the Bill of Rights
Media acts as a watchdog, holding government accountable

Print Media:
- Newspapers critical since the republic's beginning
- 1792: Government subsidized newspaper delivery
Telegraph (mid-19th century):
- Rapid news dissemination
Radio (late 19th - early 20th century):
- First mass media
- President Franklin Roosevelt's 'fireside chats' during the Great Depression
Television (1950s-60s):
- Became primary news source
- Influenced public perception of the Vietnam War
Internet and Social Media (late 1990s - 2000s):
- Changed news consumption drastically
- Pew Trust report (2010): News is more socially engaging and driven
- Rise of personalized news consumption through algorithms

News Events:
- Coverage of noteworthy events (e.g., Hindenburg, Mount St. Helens, COVID-19)
Investigative Journalism:
- Exposing corruption in government and society
- Example: Progressive Era journalists ('muckrakers') like Upton Sinclair
- Impact: Led to legislative changes (e.g., Pure Food and Drug Act)
Election Coverage and Political Commentary:
- Information on candidates and policies
- Problem: 'Horse race journalism' focuses on polling numbers, popularity

Media remains a crucial linkage institution despite changing formats
Importance of understanding media's influence on public perception and government accountability

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