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Media Influence in American Politics?

Media Influence in American Politics?. Myth or Reality? November 26, 2001. The Media. Do the media distort reality? How? Does it matter? To what ends is reality distorted? intentional or unintentional? Does this distorted reality shape or mirror public opinion?

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Media Influence in American Politics?

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  1. Media Influence in American Politics? Myth or Reality? November 26, 2001

  2. The Media • Do the media distort reality? How? • Does it matter? • To what ends is reality distorted? • intentional or unintentional? • Does this distorted reality shape or mirror public opinion? • Do people expect the media to be unbiased? • Do people NOT recognize media biases?

  3. An Alternative Interpretation... • profitability is key • importance of audience to profitability • media is biased • however, it mirrors (rather than shapes public opinion) • media concentration • not evidence that media can shape public views • evidence that media cannot shape public views

  4. Types of Media Bias • distorted view which shapes public opinion • what is there is biased • distorted view by leaving issues out • bias lies in what is not there

  5. Is the Media Biased? • how would one judge? • depends upon perspective • media that mirrors public opinion may seem biased to the observer • media concentration and the issue of bias • overall media bias seems less likely in a 500-channel, Internet universe • overall media bias seems less serious

  6. Media Bias • distorted view which shapes public opinion • what is there is biased • distorted view by leaving issues out • bias lies in what is not there • the medium is the message • creates passivity (not interactive) • atomizing • consumerism/commodity fetishism

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