Shaping the Conventional Wisdom

In: Political communication, Band 10, Heft 3, S. 285-302

Abstract

Examines the the process by which US national election results are interpreted by news media, in which the media rely on competing sources inside Washington, DC, whose interpretations are designed to maximize their political advantage in the postelection political environment. Ultimately, a conventional wisdom emerges that gives political actors a common understanding of the political reality, on which they base their interaction. The "winning" interpretations will be those most vigorously promoted by their supporters inside Washington. In 1988, the dominant interpretations were that the president-elect had no mandate to lead Congress & that the Democratic party lost because its message was too liberal. 7 Tables, 28 References. Adapted from the source document.