Final answer:
Mass media influences the government by setting the agenda, shaping public perception, and determining the public agenda.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mass media has a significant influence on the government in several ways. First, the media serves as an agenda setter by deciding which issues receive public attention. They can choose to report on specific topics, bringing them to the forefront of public discourse and pressuring the government to address them. Second, the media's depiction of government officials and their interactions can influence public perception and shape the way citizens understand politics and policies. Lastly, the media plays a role in determining the public agenda by highlighting certain issues and discussing them in news stories, thus influencing what topics should be given attention and discussed.