The media's primary function in a democratic society is to inform the public, provide a platform for public debate, and hold those in power accountable. Promoting the interests of powerful individuals or groups is not a legitimate function of the media in a democracy.

Media gatekeeping refers to the process by which media outlets select and prioritize the news stories they cover. This process is influenced by a variety of factors, including the outlet's editorial policies, the availability of resources, and the perceived interests of the audience.

Agenda-setting refers to the media's ability to influence the public's perception of the importance of different issues. This can be done by deciding which stories to cover, determining the prominence of a story, and framing a story in a particular way.

Framing refers to the way in which the media presents information in a way that favors a particular perspective or interpretation. This can be done through the selection of words, images, and other elements of the story.

Priming refers to the media's ability to influence the public's perception of an issue by repeatedly covering it in a particular way. This can be done by focusing on the personal lives of politicians rather than their policies, presenting a story in a way that emphasizes its emotional impact, or repeatedly covering a particular issue in a negative light.

The rise of new media technologies has posed a number of challenges to the traditional role of the media in shaping public discourse, including the fragmentation of the media landscape, the spread of misinformation and disinformation, and the decline of trust in traditional media outlets.

The rise of new media technologies has presented a number of opportunities for the media to shape public discourse, including the ability to reach a wider audience, the potential for greater interactivity and engagement with the public, and the ability to provide more personalized and tailored content.

Cultivation refers to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's perception of that issue. This can occur over time, as the media repeatedly presents a particular perspective on an issue.

Cultivation refers to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's perception of that issue. This can occur over time, as the media repeatedly presents a particular perspective on an issue. Examples of cultivation include repeatedly portraying women in stereotypical roles, focusing on crime and violence in news coverage, and presenting a negative view of politicians.

Behavioral effects refer to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's behavior. This can occur when the media's coverage of an issue leads people to change their attitudes or beliefs about the issue, or when it leads them to take action on the issue.

Behavioral effects refer to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's behavior. This can occur when the media's coverage of an issue leads people to change their attitudes or beliefs about the issue, or when it leads them to take action on the issue. Examples of behavioral effects include encouraging people to vote in an election, persuading people to buy a particular product, and motivating people to donate to a charity.

Salience refers to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's perception of the importance of that issue. This can occur when the media gives an issue a lot of coverage, or when it frames the issue in a way that makes it seem more important.

Salience refers to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's perception of the importance of that issue. This can occur when the media gives an issue a lot of coverage, or when it frames the issue in a way that makes it seem more important. An example of salience is when the media covers a natural disaster extensively.

Attribution refers to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's perception of the causes and consequences of that issue. This can occur when the media assigns blame for a problem to a particular person or group, or when it presents a particular explanation for why a problem exists.

Attribution refers to the process by which the media's coverage of an issue influences the public's perception of the causes and consequences of that issue. This can occur when the media assigns blame for a problem to a particular person or group, or when it presents a particular explanation for why a problem exists. An example of attribution is when the media blames a politician for a natural disaster.