Media and Politics

Media and Politics

The media is an intricate part of American government, intertwined with the

practice of democracy, but to what extent does the media influence public opinion? To

answer that several aspects of media coverage have to be explored. The first fact is that

the media is America’s basic resource for all the news concerning American politics. The

second aspect is that the opinion expressed by the press influences the opinion adopted by

the public. Lastly the issues the media deem important help set the national agenda.

The most basic way the media influence public opinion is by offering knowledge

about government decisions and access to government information. Daily the press

deliver the raw information to the nation, whom in turn form into opinions. Without the

media it would take the public longer to become educated about governmental

proceedings. The media send messages across the nation. Before the advancement of

such media as the television, radio, and the Internet, a much smaller percentage of

Americans were informed about the issues concerning the nation.

The second way the media can influence public opinion is through their ability to

convey an overall tone to their readers and viewers according to their own sentiments.

Often a newspaper’s own feelings on a certain issue are expressed in their articles. When

the public reads about such issues they can adopt the attitude which the media portrayed.

The press my frame stories in a way that enhances the overall tone toward government

and politics. Unfortunately the most common trend is to hold a negative attitude toward

government. This negative tone has led to a national decline in voter participation. A

greater portion of the country now attains a skeptical view of the American government.

Most likely the largest way the media impact the public opinion is through agenda

setting. Because of the vast number of issues plaguing America today, the press has to

decide which they will cover and which they will not. Their reporting has a vital

connection to what the public comes to believe are the important issues in the country. If

the press repeatedly covers the gun control issue, then the nation itself comes to believe

that it is significant. What The New York Times run on their front cover today is what

constituents across the nation begin to feel is important. Because the nation deems it

important, than it is introduced into legislature tomorrow. The press possesses the

capability to create the impression that certain problems are of greater urgency than