Politics and Mass Media in the U.S. (Honors)

Our democratic government was founded on the notion that freedom of the press is fundamental to preserving the people’s power and limiting the government’s power. But how have a free press and rapidly expanding forms of electronic media affected our democracy? This class will help students develop a critical lens as they consume political media content in the 21st century. We will explore questions such as: To what extent do the news media educate -- or manipulate – citizens? Has information been “weaponized” by actors seeking political and financial gain? To what extent is social media a negative force in politics, dividing us into ideological echo chambers, or a positive force for connection and activism? How have new developments in media affected the ability of citizens to participate meaningfully in society and politics – and is more citizen participation necessarily a good thing? How does the First Amendment protect freedom of the press – and, given the almost unfettered expansion of social media, should we regulate the media more than we do?