Lecture #6: Politics and the Media October 12th, 2016 Lecture #6: Politics and the Media

Midterm Midterm next Monday Should take about an hour Mix of multiple-choice and short answer Review guide is up.

Media and Public Opinion How do politicians and citizens learn about one another through the media? Media as gatekeepers Focus on high-profile figures elevates the president Media focuses on issues that it considers newsworthy Bias? Implicit bias? What generates attention? Public figures can influence media for their own purposes, also Priming “media doesn’t tell people what to think, but what to think about” Framing of issues Political debates and framing “who won” – focus by TV personalities on horse race influences perceptions

Public Opinion So, what is the value of public opinion? Do the people know what they need to know? If not, what does that say about democracy? H. L. Mencken thought not

Democracy is Illogical H. L. Mencken Democracy, ideal and real Legitimacy distinguished from obligation Democratic legitimacy consent utility

H.L. Mencken

Democracy is Illogical H. L. Mencken Democracy, ideal and real Legitimacy distinguished from obligation Democratic legitimacy consent utility

Democracy is Immoral The mob conformity, decency, homogeneity Democratic psychology resentment Schadenfreude

Public Opinion The democratic faith moral right cognitive ability Public opinion and democracy James Bryce George Gallup The opinions of the public

Major Media Audiences

Walter Lippmann

Knowledge and Opinion The omni-competent citizen Limits to knowledge Source Content Complexity and specialization

Stereotypes What is a stereotype? Can we live without them? Can we make them more complex? The new political division of labor experts and mass publics

Media and Public Opinion How do politicians and citizens learn about one another through the media? Media as gatekeepers Focus on high-profile figures elevates the president Media focuses on issues that it considers newsworthy Bias? Implicit bias? What generates attention? Public figures can influence media for their own purposes, also Priming “media doesn’t tell people what to think, but what to think about” Framing of issues Political debates and framing “who won” – focus by tv personalities on horse race influence perceptions

Public Opinion So, what is the value of public opinion? Do the people know what they need to know? If not, what does that say about democracy? H. L. Mencken thought not

Democracy is Illogical H. L. Mencken Democracy, ideal and real Legitimacy distinguished from obligation Democratic legitimacy consent utility

H.L. Mencken

Democracy is Illogical H. L. Mencken Democracy, ideal and real Legitimacy distinguished from obligation Democratic legitimacy consent utility

Democracy is Immoral The mob conformity, decency, homogeneity Democratic psychology resentment Schadenfreude

Public Opinion The democratic faith moral right cognitive ability Public opinion and democracy James Bryce George Gallup The opinions of the public

Major Media Audiences

Walter Lippmann

Knowledge and Opinion The omni-competent citizen Limits to knowledge Source Content Complexity and specialization

Stereotypes What is a stereotype? Can we live without them? Can we make them more complex? The new political division of labor experts and mass publics