Role of Social Media in Relying Information

Write a 2-3 page paper about the role of the media in American government and politics, how you can use the media to be a better-informed citizen, and ways to become an agent of social and political change.
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Introduction
If you have completed the previous assessments, you should now have a better understanding of how our government works and be better prepared to engage effectively in our political processes. In this assessment, you will be asked to turn your attention to how you will use that deeper understanding and ability to engage more effectively into your future. You will explore how you can be more involved with a political party or interest groups to be an agent of social and political change. You will also look at the role of media in your understanding of government, politics, and current issues.
Media has always been a key player in not just keeping American citizens informed of current events and political development, but in shaping public opinion. As you work through this assessment, think about the role of media in American government and politics and how you can use the media in the future to be a better-informed citizen. In particular, think about how you can become more aware of bias in the media and in yourself.
We often see what we want to see and hear only what we want to hear. When getting news, it is important to be able to ensure that the news you are receiving is accurate and to be aware of your own possibly biased interpretation of that news. It is possible to find evidence—anecdotal and otherwise—to “prove” media bias of one stripe or another. As much as we may try to avoid biases, there is no such thing as an objective point of view. Being aware of that improves your media literacy and can help you evaluate news sources and sift reliable from unreliable reports.
It can also help you in your personal and professional life. Bias can affect the way you interact with others in the world and influence how you function in the workplace, impacting how you make decisions, who you pay attention to, and how you evaluate performance. Letting your biases go unexamined and unchallenged can distort your perspective and leave you more poorly informed and poorly equipped to engage with different perspectives and the opposing viewpoints of others not only in your workplace, but also in your local and global communities.
Overview
For this assessment, you will write a 2–3 page paper about the role of the media in American government and politics and how you can use the media in the future to be a better-informed citizen. You will also explore how you can be more involved with a political party (including third parties) or interest groups to be an agent of social and political change.
Preparation
To prepare for this assessment:
• Review the suggested resources for this assessment.
• Complete the Media and Politics interactive activity.
• Identify at least three credible sources, such as peer-reviewed articles in the Capella Library, credible newspapers (such as the New York Times or Wall Street Journal, as long as you do not use their editorial/opinion articles), or reports from a credible research firm (such as the Pew Research Center) to support the content of your paper.
Instructions
Write an essay in which you address the following requirements. Be sure to write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
• Step 1: Describe two different problems people often face when getting news about the American political/governmental system.
o Include examples for support.
• Step 2: Describe two strategies for ensuring you are receiving accurate news about the world.
o Include examples for support.
• Step 3: Describe and explain which party/parties and/or interest groups are most interesting to you and why.
• Step 4: Explain how, as a well-informed person, you can be engaged in the political process by working with a political party or interest group.
o Be specific about what you can do with the party or group.
Submission Requirements
Your assessment should meet the following requirements:
• Length: 2–3 pages of text, in addition to a title page and reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• Citations: Properly cite at least 3 sources according to APA rules. Review Evidence and APA for more information on how to cite your sources.
Refer to the Media and Politics scoring guide to ensure that you meet all criteria. To earn full points for each criterion, be sure to note the details on what constitutes distinguished performance.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 5: Examine the influence of media on politics and government.
o Describe two different problems people often face when getting news.
o Describe two strategies to ensure one receives accurate news about the world.
o Explain which party or parties and/or interest groups are most personally interesting and why.
o Explain how a well-informed person can be engaged in the political process by working with a political party or interest group.
• Competency 6: Address assessment purpose in a well-organized manner, incorporating appropriate evidence and tone in grammatically sound sentences.
o Write in a well-organized and concise manner that adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.

RESOURCES
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
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News Media and Bias
How can you ensure the news you are getting about the American political/governmental system is accurate? One way is to be able to recognize the types of bias we commonly see in the media. The resources provided below explain how to discern bias and better determine the reliability of what you read and watch.
• O’Connor, K., & Sabato, L. J. (2022). American government: Roots and reform, 2020 presidential election edition (14th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
o Chapter 13, “The News Media,” pages 328–353.
• Assessment 5: News Media and Bias reading list.
Getting Involved
The resources below discuss various political parties and political interest groups in the United States. Becoming more aware of and engaged with our country’s political system may increase your interest in becoming more involved with that system. These resources can help you explore your political values and engage with particular parties or interest groups whose values and goals most closely match your own.
• O’Connor, K., & Sabato, L. J. (2022). American government: Roots and reform, 2020 presidential election edition (14th ed.). Pearson. Available in the courseroom via the VitalSource Bookshelf link.
o Chapter 11, “Political Parties,”” pages 261–288.
o Chapter 14, “Interest Groups,” pages 354–377.
• Assessment 5: Getting Involved reading list.
Library Research Guide
You may want to find other resources to prepare for this assessment, and you will need to ensure that they are appropriate, credible, and valid. The General Education Information Research Skills Library Guide provides links to library skills instruction, subject-specific resources and tools, and assessment-focused help you can use in all your general education courses. The Political Science page in the guide includes links to eBooks, background information, and specialized databases in the area.