Discussion Questions

1. What forms of social media do you use and why did you pick the ones you did? Are there any that you no longer use and, if so, which ones and why? Please describe the quality of “news” available on each platform.

2. Should the military try harder to limit military servicemen and servicewomen’s discussions of combat situations on blogs? Is it already trying too hard to regulate soldiers’ speech? Is it worth the effort? Do you think it would even be technologically feasible?

3. How has the rise of social media affected the ability of Americans to follow international events and conflicts? In what ways has this new media made it harder to verify information?

4. Why is a free press so central to a democratic government? Why did the founders choose to protect the press given the poor quality of the press in their time?

5. Why is news and commentary on the radio so often conservative in nature? Is there something about the medium that encourages conservative views? Is there something about their consumers that promotes such views?

6. One of the interesting features of the modern media is that at the same time that the number of outlets is increasing (largely on cable/satellite and the web), the majority of all the outlets are owned by a very small number of corporations. Are you concerned about media consolidation? Why or why not? Are there any potential risks of consolidation for politics?

7. Where do you get your news from and why? Encourage students who answer the internet to consider the true source of their news. Where do your parents and grandparents get their news?

8. Why are news aggregating websites both good and bad for consumers? How many of you use them and why?

9. What is net neutrality? Do you support this idea, why or why not?

10. Do you agree with Crewes’ argument that deregulation of the media is a good thing as only the government can truly censor information? Do you find his argument convincing, why or why not?

11. What do you think about the fairness doctrine? Is it a good idea or have there been too many unintended consequences? Is the solution simply to increase enforcement?

12. The issue with Brian Williams points toward the importance of journalists having credibility. Are there any journalists you find to be particularly credible? Any that you find particularly lacking in credibility?

13. Do any of you get your news from sources that blur the line between entertainment and information? If so, which ones and why? Are there any news sources that you find to be particularly informative or particularly serious? What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to the blurring of the lines between news producer and news consumer?

14. What do you think about soft news programs like The Daily Show? Do you find them funny? Informative? Do you think its viewers are more informed than the average American, why or why not?

15. How biased do you find the media as a whole? Try to as much as possible point towards specific instances of bias that you may have observed.

16. When the news media covers politicians’ scandals, do you follow those stories? Why or why not? Do you think that scandals get too much coverage? Why or why not?

17. What are media effects and how powerful are they? In what areas does the media most affect the public? Have you ever noticed the media affecting your opinions?

18. What is the digital divide and how might it affect politics in the United States? Have you personally observed any evidence of it? Do you find it troubling, why or why not?