Lecture 8
Media and Politics: Analyzing the News Media

I. Intermediary Institutions: Democracy in a Large State

A. From Government to Citizen

1. Government Reports/Speeches

2. Campaigns

3. The News Media

B. From Citizen to Government

1. Elections

2. Polls

3. Parties

4. Interest Groups

II. Approaches to Analyzing the News Media

A. Structural/economic (media owned by moneyed interests, conservatives)

B. Personnel (media run by liberals)

C. Professional routines/worldviews (Out of Order)

1. Beats

2. Conflict/Entertainment

a. "roving spotlight"

b. "spectacle"

3. Personification (Celebrity)

4. Game Frame
What is the "game" schema?
What is the governing schema?
Why are journalists so excited by one and so bored by the other?
What are the consequences of this style of framing events?

III. Lippman on Learning About Politics

Lippman says that theories of democracy are "bad . . .in the sense that it is bad for a fat man to try to be a ballet dancer." What does he mean?

Lippman says that "public opinion does not make the law." What role in government can public opinion play according to Lippman?

Of the four visions of democracy outlined at the beginning of the course (majoritarian, classical, pluralist, trusteeship), which does Lippman's view seem to resemble?

Do you agree with Lippman?