CANDIDATES, ISSUES, HORSE RACES, AND HOOPLA

In: American politics quarterly, Band 19, Heft 13, S. 5-32

Abstract

THIS RISE OF TELEVISION AS AMERICANS' PRIMARY NEWS SOURCE HAS OFTEN BEEN DECRIED AS A BLIGHT ON REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY. IN THIS ARTICLE THE AUTHORS OUTLINE THREE INTERPRETATIONS OF MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS. THE AUTHORS THEN UNDERTAKE A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF NEWSPAPER COVERAGE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS OF 1888, 1908, 1928, 1948, AND 1988. THE ANALYSIS INDICATES SOME CHANGES DURING THE POST WORLD-WAR II ERA.