The Mass Media And Politics

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in order for the people to fulfill their responsibilities
as citizens, such as voting, they need to be informed. Lewis Powell goes
on to say,

"For most citizens, the prospect of personal familiarity with
newsworthy events is hopelessly unrealistic. In seeking out the
news, the press therefore acts as an agent of the public at large.
It is the means by which people receive that free flow of
information and ideas essential to intelligent self government."

No citizen is able to obtain all of the "newsworthy" information they
need alone. The press provides the people with the information necessary
for democracy in the United States.
According to our textbook, United States Government Democracy in
Action, the mass media has been referred to as the fourth branch of
government. (527) By simply associating the media with the other three
branches of government implies the power of the mass media. The
information relayed by the media to ...

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the country's
leaders. This has both positive and negative effects. For example, a
candidate for president is speaking to the general public over a television.
He is young, relatively handsome, and charismatic. His opponent, who airs
on television immediately following, is an older gentleman with a rough
voice and gray hair. Obviously, the younger man is the "people pleaser."
Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to handle the broadcast
media well. Most newspapers did not support him, and television
broadcasting did not exist, so he presented his views to the people over
the radio with "fireside chats." His voice was strong and confident. He
set a good impression ...

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