The Media as a Political Institution
The U.S. media is the subject of many important social science questions. How have the media changed over recent decades, and how have these changes affected our perceptions of government? Does the nature or amount of media coverage change the public's opinion about issues or politicians? Do elected officials behave differently if the media are watching? Are the goals of members of the media consonant with the "public interest"? Are there relevant differences between how newspapers, television, and the internet interact with government? We will consider these and other questions in light of recent research. 3 hrs. lect./disc. (American Politics)/