Question

The proliferation of alternative media gives viewers the opportunity

a. to choose news sources that create the most dissonance with their views.
b. to see even more contextualized news because websites provide more data.
c. to opt out of consuming political information all together.
d. to become well-informed voters and participants.

Answer 1

The proliferation of alternative media allows people to select news sources aligned with their beliefs, potentially creating echo chambers and enabling some to avoid political news altogether, challenging the role of media in creating a well-informed electorate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The proliferation of alternative media gives viewers the opportunity to tailor their news consumption to their pre-existing beliefs and avoid content that may contradict their worldview. As a result, individuals may become insulated within echo chambers, encountering mainly content that reinforces their existing opinions. In this environment, Republicans might favor Fox News for its conservative angle, while Democrats might lean towards MSNBC or Comedy Central for more liberal perspectives.

On the other hand, some people may opt to avoid politics entirely, choosing to consume media that focuses on entertainment or sports instead.

This customization, facilitated by the advent of the internet and cable, creates a fragmented news landscape, with each person able to escape information they do not wish to hear, challenging the notion that this trend leads to a well-informed electorate.