64 Media: Influence and Impact
Democratic primary candidate Bernie Sanders arrived in Seattle on August 8, 2015, to give a speech at a rally to promote his presidential campaign. Instead, the rally was interrupted—and eventually co-opted—by activists for Black Lives Matter.[1]
Why did the group risk alienating Democratic voters by preventing Sanders from speaking?
While some questioned its tactics, the organization’s move underscores how important the media are to gaining recognition, and the lengths to which organizations are willing to go to get media attention.[2]
Media: Questions to Consider
- What does it mean to have a free news media?
- What regulations limit what media can do?
- How do the media contribute to informing citizens and monitoring politicians and the government, and how do we measure their impact?