Answer to Question 1
An ideal response will:
1, Explain how the media role as the gatekeeper of the news allows them to situate stories affecting citizens' understanding of the facts and the context of stories.
2, Provide three examples of this, including, but not limited to, the images of whites finding bread and water after Hurricane Katrina, while images of African-Americans were framed as looting; the use of out-of-date photos from the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case; and, the framing of the Iraq invasion as a defensive measure.
3, Discuss a current media story and illustrate how the context in which the story has been presented demonstrates how the media can shape the public's interpretation of events.
4, Speculate on how a change might change the public's interpretation of a story.
5, Provide a clear and concise conclusion.
Answer to Question 2
b