- Describe the relationship between media and social problems.
- Discuss patterns and trends in media portrayals of social problems.
- Describe the debate about the role of media as a potential cause of social problems.
- Discuss emergent social problems associated with new media technologies.
- Explain how the functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives conceptualize the media–social problems relationship.
- Explain how contemporary theories conceptualize the media–social problems relationship.
- Identify steps toward media-related social change.
