Birthers: Those who believe President Barack Obama was born outside of the United States
Cultivation Theory: Cultivates certain impressions of the world (stereotypes)
Framing: How news information is presented, emphasizes certain aspects and minimizes others
Gatekeeping: News stations decide what information is important to pass along
The ultimate gatekeeper is the news reader and viewer
Media filters, shapes, and constructs "reality"
Long-Form: Copy of the actual certificate of birth on file with the locality where the birth took place
Selective Exposure: Individuals pay attention to different kinds of info that is more or less relevant and familiar to their own experiences
Selective Perception: Believing only the information that supports our previous beliefs and biases, and filtering out even the factual information that contradicts those beliefs.
Selective Processes: Each person perceives and interprets the world differently based on experiences and influences
Selective Retention: Information we remember, confirms our beliefs and values
Sensational Reporting: Editorial bias in which reporters over exaggerate the issue at hand to increase viewership.
Short-Form: A notarized document stating that the long-form certificate exists and is on file.
Third Person Effect Theory (TPE): How media affects us and others.
Truthiness: Stephen Colbert defined truthiness as, "Truthiness is what you want the facts to be as opposed to what the facts are. What feels like the right answer as opposed to what reality will support."
