What term describes the process of predisposing readers or viewers to think a particular way?

• A. Priming
• B. Slander
• C. Sunshine laws
• D. Muckraking

Answer: (A)

Priming is the process by which media exposure prepares people to interpret events, issues, or political actors in a particular way by activating specific concerns or frames. When audiences repeatedly see stories that foreground a certain topic or emphasize a particular angle, it shapes what aspects they notice, remember, and ultimately use to judge situations or leaders later on. This helps explain why, after a news segment that highlights crime or national security, people might rate those issues as most important or evaluate a candidate's competence through that lens—even if their underlying beliefs haven’t fully changed. Slander, sunshine laws, and muckraking refer to defamation, government transparency, and investigative reporting, respectively, and do not describe the predisposing effect on how people think about issues.