Answer to Question 1
An ideal response will:
1, Discuss the importance of newsworthy events to political candidates and campaigns.
2, Explain the various factors identified as contributing to the overall newsworthiness of stories. These can include novelty, drama or human interest, a familiar narrative, or a dramatic visual.
3, Illustrate how a combination of these factors, when applied to a candidate or campaign, would make a story newsworthy.
4, Provide a clear and concise conclusion.
Answer to Question 2
An ideal response will:
1, Explain how the rise of adversarial-attack journalism and infotainment have displaced serious consideration of issues, policy alternatives, and the examination of the actions of government.
2, Discuss how this sends a message to the American public that politics is about special interests and that candidates and elected officials are all disingenuous. Explain how this is exacerbated by the continued emphasis on the failings of government.
3, Explain how increased cynicism fueled by the media leads to citizen disengagement from the political process, as evidenced by declining trust in government and low levels of voter participation.
4, Provide a clear and concise conclusion.