Final answer:
The media functions as a linking institution by serving as a common carrier, facilitating communication between citizens and the government, and providing citizens with information on government actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The media functions as a linking institution in the following ways:
- By serving as a common carrier to connect the government and the people, allowing citizens to learn about what the government is doing and vice versa.
- By facilitating communication between citizens and the government, acting as an agent to link the people to the government and government officials back to the people.
- By providing citizens with information on what the government is doing, informing the public about government actions and motivating people to become actively engaged in their community.