Includes bibliographical references (pages 205-221) and index.
SUMMARY OR ABSTRACT
Text of Note
This trenchant analysis questions why the interaction between the news media and their audiences fails to create the democratic potential everyone assumes occurs with such interaction. Drawing illustrations mainly from the Carter and Reagan years, the book presents a clear statement of the dilemmas facing the news media and their audience today. The book offers a portrait of citizenship in America, defined by the public's changing levels of political knowledge and participation from 1952 to 1984. Politically unsophisticated, the mass audience prefers simple, symbolic news, which means that journalists can offer little of the detached, detailed explorations of policy issues that would provide the public with the information needed to hold government to close account.
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS NOTE (ELECTRONIC RESOURCES)
Text of Note
Master and use copy. Digital master created according to Benchmark for Faithful Digital Reproductions of Monographs and Serials, Version 1. Digital Library Federation, December 2002.
OTHER EDITION IN ANOTHER MEDIUM
International Standard Book Number
9780195053135
TOPICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
Government and the press-- United States.
Journalism-- Objectivity-- United States.
Journalism-- Political aspects-- United States.
Political participation-- United States.
Public opinion-- United States.
État et presse-- États-Unis.
Opinion publique-- États-Unis.
Participation politique-- États-Unis.
Presse-- Aspect politique-- États-Unis.
Presse-- États-Unis-- Objectivité
Government and the press.
Journalism-- Objectivity.
Journalism-- Political aspects.
LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES-- Journalism.
Massamedia.
Political participation.
Politics and government
Politieke aspecten.
Public opinion.
GEOGRAPHICAL NAME USED AS SUBJECT
United States, Politics and government, 1981-1989.
États-Unis, Politique et gouvernement, 1981-1989.