Tracking the effects of media content on the public is a difficult endeavor, and media effects vary on a subject-to-subject basis. To address this challenge,
The Politics of Persuasion employs a multifaceted, mixed method approach to studying mass media and public attitudes. Anthony R. Di Maggio analyzes more than a dozen case studies covering US domestic economic policy and examines a wide range of theories of how bias operates in mass media with regard to coverage of these issues. While some research claims that journalists are overly negative and biased against government officials, some reveals that journalists favor citizens groups. Still other studies contend there is a liberal bias in the media, a progovernment bias, or a bias in favor of advertisers and business interests. Through his analysis, Di Maggio is the first to systematically examine all of these competing interpretations. He concludes that reporters tailor stories to corporate and government interests, but argues that the ability to ‘manufacture consent’ from the public in favor of these elite views is far from guaranteed. According to Di Maggio, citizens often make use of their own personal experiences and prior attitudes to challenge official narratives.
Tabela de Conteúdo
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Political Officials, the News, and Public Opinion
1. The Research on Media Bias
2. Split Party Government and Reporting on the Minimum Wage, 1996 and 2007
3. Unified Republican Government: Debating Tax Cuts and Social Security, 2001–2005
4. Unified Democratic Government: Debating the Stimulus and Executive Pay, 2009
5. The Attack Dog Bias? Bad News and Economic Policy, 1996–2009
6. Media Effects on Public Opinion
7. Media Coverage and Its Effects: Expanded Case Studies, 1993–2014
8. Experimental Evidence of Media Effects on Public Opinion
Conclusion
Post-Script
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Sobre o autor
Anthony R. Di Maggio is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Lehigh University and the author of
Selling War, Selling Hope: Presidential Rhetoric, the News Media, and U.S. Foreign Policy since 9/11, also published by SUNY Press.