Mass Media And American Politics (Mass Media and American Politics) | 
| Author: Doris A. Graber
Publisher: CQ Press
Category: Book
List Price: $59.95
Buy Used: $24.75
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Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 386105
Media: Paperback
Edition: 7
Pages: 407
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 1
ISBN: 1568029179
Dewey Decimal Number: 302.230973
EAN: 9781568029177
ASIN: 1568029179
Publication Date: August 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Doris Graber's classic text on the mass media continues a strong tradition of combining comprehensive coverage and cutting-edge theory. An ideal core text, this trusted and balanced volume explores the foundations of the American mass media system with a focus on political and technological developments. Graber shows students how the media influences governmental institutions and functions, and in turn how the government shapes the way the media works and disseminates information. Her broad coverage has three focal points: the news media's role in both the public and private sectors; the media's impact on the attitudes and perceptions of ordinary Americans and political elites; and the ways in which the news media cover governmental institutions and political situations. The seventh edition is thoroughly updated to reflect the ever-growing impact of narrowcasting and outlets outside of traditional mediums, such as cable television. The impact of media consolidation and regulatory policies are explored before turning to how media structures and operations function under both normal and extraordinary circumstances, with war coverage, censorship, embedded journalists and consequences of the Patriot Act receiving new and expanded attention. Graber also discusses in greater depth the impact of entertainment media, while coverage of the Internet in politics--its role in elections, the role of bloggers--is given specific emphasis. In addition, new material on the recent 2004 campaigns and elections are infused throughout the book, with tables and figures showcasing current data and original research.
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| Customer Reviews:
A Good All-Inclusive Introductory Text September 9, 2004
doomsdayer520 (Pennsylvania)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This well-compiled textbook gathers basic theoretical introductions to all aspects of the relationship between the American media and the political system. Included are basic mass communication concepts such as agenda setting and gatekeeping, which are then projected into larger media trends and governmental/media interactions in all relevant directions. The book provides descriptions of how government affects media (ownership regulations, First Amendment rules, libel laws), how media affects government (building of public opinion, muckraking, watchdog responsibilities), and how the connections between government and media affect the public (opinion patterns, voting behavior, political knowledge levels). One recurring problem here is that the book is often noncommittal in describing contentious political issues, which is a result of trying to present arguments from all sides. This tends to reduce the perceived importance of some crucial issues in the reader's mind, especially problems with media ownership patterns in recent years, and issues arising from modern deregulation. Meanwhile, the book's sectional arrangement, as is true for many textbooks, leads to a fair amount of repetition and re-explanations of basic concepts (a real problem in the adjoining chapters for the different branches of government, for example). In any case this book is a very useful introduction to a wide range of theoretical areas, and impressively prepares the reader for more in-depth research endeavors. [~doomsdayer520~]
Mass Media and Politics: Shall We Dance? May 23, 2000
Lorrie Graham (Jackson, Ohio)
9 out of 13 found this review helpful
Graber's dissertation clearly illustrates how the mass media effects individual beliefs, attitudes, and activities. Consider how much of the working day is spent discussing top news stories, political issues, and social situations. The average American spends seven hours of exposure per day to some form of mass media news or entertainment [television, newspapers, magazines, radio, etc.] (p.2). Taking this into consideration, the average individual will usually talk about that which they are most familiar, or that in which they are most interested. Based on these statistics, it is inevitable that news stories will be the topic of discussion, thus influence, in American's daily life.Using children as an analogy, the fighting, bickering, fingerpointing, and blaming stops when someone is in trouble. Then trouble comes around, Americans band together, becoming unpenetrable to the adversary. Graber points this out in the chapters on Foreign Affairs Coverage and Crisis Coverage. Everyone has experienced a time of 'crisis', either locally, nationally, or globally. Once a crisis occurs, newspapers, magazines, talk shows, radio, etc. band together. This one aspect keeps America free, and democratic. I agree with Graber that the mass media effects individual beliefs, attitudes, and activities. She has proven her point effectively.
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