The Media's Role in Elections

Active learning works for this topic because media framing decisions are subtle yet powerful, and students need hands-on practice to notice them. When students analyze real news clips or debate moments themselves, they move beyond abstract definitions of bias to see how editorial choices shape public perception in tangible ways.

• 9th Grade
• Civics & Government
• 4 activities
• 20 min–50 min

Learning Objectives

1. Analyze how specific news framing techniques in campaign coverage influence public perception of candidate traits.
2. Evaluate the measurable impact of presidential debate viewership on shifts in voter preference polls.
3. Critique the persuasive strategies employed in newspaper endorsements and their historical significance in US elections.
4. Compare and contrast the editorial choices made by two different media outlets regarding a single election event.
5. Explain how campaign advertising, influenced by decisions like Citizens United, functions as a form of political communication.

Gallery Walk

⏱ 40 min·Small Groups

Gallery Walk: Analyzing News Framing

Students examine printed or projected excerpts of coverage of the same candidate from three different news outlets, annotating for word choice, story placement, and image selection. In small groups they compare their annotations and identify patterns. Groups then share observations with the class to build a collective analysis of how framing shapes perception.

Prepare & details

Analyze how media coverage can influence voter perceptions of candidates.

Facilitation Tip: During the Gallery Walk, position yourself near a cluster of articles to overhear conversations and gently redirect students who focus only on headline wording without examining article structure or placement.

Setup: Wall space or tables arranged around room perimeter

Materials: Large paper/poster boards, Markers, Sticky notes for feedback

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Relationship Skills
• Social Awareness

Think-Pair-Share

⏱ 20 min·Pairs

Think-Pair-Share: Debate Moments That Moved Polls

Students individually read a short data brief on polling before and after historical debates (such as Kennedy-Nixon 1960 or Clinton-Trump 2016) and form a claim about what drives voter reaction. They pair to stress-test their reasoning, then share with the whole class to build a picture of when and why debates matter.

Prepare & details

Evaluate the impact of presidential debates on election outcomes.

Facilitation Tip: For the Think-Pair-Share on debate moments, provide pre-debate polling data so students have a baseline to compare against post-debate shifts.

Setup: Standard classroom seating; students turn to a neighbor

Materials: Discussion prompt (projected or printed), Optional: recording sheet for pairs

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Socratic Seminar

⏱ 45 min·Whole Class

Socratic Seminar: Should the Media Endorse Candidates?

Using short readings on the arguments for and against editorial endorsements, students hold a structured discussion requiring text evidence. The teacher facilitates by redirecting and asking clarifying questions rather than leading. Students must engage with at least one opposing argument before restating their own position.

Prepare & details

Critique the role of media endorsements in a democratic election.

Facilitation Tip: In the Socratic Seminar, assign specific roles to quieter students to ensure everyone contributes, such as timekeeper, evidence collector, or devil’s advocate.

Setup: Chairs arranged in two concentric circles

Materials: Discussion question/prompt (projected), Observation rubric for outer circle

• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Create
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Jigsaw

⏱ 50 min·Small Groups

Jigsaw: Cross-Platform Election Coverage

Each expert group analyzes a different media type -- print, television, social media, or podcast -- for how it covered a recent local or national election using a shared comparison framework. Groups reassemble in mixed configurations to build a full picture of how platform differences shape the information voters receive.

Prepare & details

Analyze how media coverage can influence voter perceptions of candidates.

Facilitation Tip: During the Jigsaw, require each group to present both the strengths and weaknesses of their assigned platform, not just its advantages.

Setup: Flexible seating for regrouping

Materials: Expert group reading packets, Note-taking template, Summary graphic organizer

• Understand
• Analyze
• Evaluate
• Relationship Skills
• Self-Management

Teaching This Topic

Teachers approach this topic by treating students as critical consumers, not passive recipients of media messages. Avoid presenting media bias as a binary of biased vs. unbiased, because even neutral reporting involves framing. Instead, model source comparison and guide students to ask: who benefits from this framing, whose voices are missing, and what might be the unintended consequences of this coverage. Research shows that when students analyze media coverage of the same event across platforms, they develop a more sophisticated understanding of how different media ecosystems operate.

What to Expect

Successful learning looks like students confidently identifying framing techniques in multiple sources and explaining how those techniques could influence voter behavior. They should also be able to discuss the limits of media influence and the role of outside money in elections with concrete examples.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

During the Gallery Walk: Analyzing News Framing, students may assume that neutral-sounding language means the coverage is unbiased.

What to Teach Instead

During the Gallery Walk, have students compare the placement and length of articles about each candidate, not just the wording. Ask them to note which stories are buried on page 12 versus featured on page 1, and how that placement shapes reader attention.

Common Misconception

During the Think-Pair-Share: Debate Moments That Moved Polls, students may overestimate the impact of a single debate on election outcomes.

What to Teach Instead

During the Think-Pair-Share, provide pre- and post-debate polling data and ask students to calculate the actual percentage point change. Have them discuss whether the shift was large enough to justify claims of a 'moved poll' moment.

Common Misconception

During the Jigsaw: Cross-Platform Election Coverage, students may believe that social media platforms are inherently more biased than traditional news outlets.

What to Teach Instead

During the Jigsaw, have groups analyze both an algorithmically recommended social media post and a traditional news article about the same candidate. Ask them to identify the type of bias in each and explain how the mechanism of delivery (algorithm vs. editorial team) influences the bias.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

After the Gallery Walk, provide students with two short news clips about the same candidate from different sources. Ask them to identify one instance of framing in each clip and explain how it might influence a viewer's perception of the candidate.

Discussion Prompt

During the Socratic Seminar, pose the question: 'Given the role of media endorsements, how can voters ensure they are making informed decisions based on a candidate's platform rather than external validation?' Facilitate a brief class discussion, encouraging students to cite specific examples from the Jigsaw presentations or their own research.

Quick Check

After the Think-Pair-Share, present students with a hypothetical scenario: A major newspaper endorses Candidate A, while a popular online news aggregator focuses heavily on Candidate B's gaffes. Ask students to write one sentence explaining the potential impact of each media action on voter behavior, using evidence from their Jigsaw analysis.

Extensions & Scaffolding

• Challenge students who finish early to create a mock news report that intentionally emphasizes one candidate’s strengths and another’s weaknesses, then have peers identify the framing techniques used.
• Scaffolding: Provide a graphic organizer with sentence stems such as 'This article focuses on ______ because ______.' to help students structure their analysis during the Gallery Walk.
• Deeper exploration: Invite a local journalist or media literacy expert to discuss how newsroom deadlines and audience metrics influence election coverage decisions.

Key Vocabulary

Media Framing	The way media outlets select certain aspects of a perceived reality and make them more salient in a communicating text, influencing how audiences understand an issue or event.
Sound Bite	A short, memorable clip of a candidate speaking, often used in news reports to summarize their message or highlight a specific point.
Horse Race Journalism	News coverage that focuses on which candidate is ahead in the polls, rather than on their policy positions or qualifications.
Endorsement	A public declaration of support for a candidate, often from a newspaper, organization, or prominent individual, intended to sway public opinion.
Citizens United v. FEC	A Supreme Court decision that held that the First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting independent expenditures for political communications by corporations, labor unions, other associations, and individuals.