Bad News, Bad Governance
In: The annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Band 546, S. 97-108
ISSN: 0002-7162
The traditional descriptive style of news reporting has shifted to an interpretive style that empowers journalists by giving them more control over content. One consequence is news coverage that focuses on the negative aspects of politics, contributing to the public's dissatisfaction with its political leaders & institutions, making it more difficult for officials to govern effectively. It is argued that the news media's version of reality is exceedingly narrow & cannot be justified by either the journalists' knowledge of political relationships or their position in the political system. A model of reporting that subordinates the voice of the journalist & aims for a more balanced portrayal of the workings of the political system is suggested. Adapted from the source document.