The Media's Impact on Perceptions of Political Polarization

This chapter argues that the mass media contribute significantly to perceptions of political polarization in the United States. The mass media set the agenda for news coverage; and the culture war frame allows the media to pursue the news values of novelty, negativity, and conflict, which attract readers and viewers and, ultimately, advertising dollars. The authors believe that contemporary media in the USA amplify and exaggerate polarization, and that reporting and commentary about political divisiveness in the country have real consequences. The chapter reviews the main arguments on both sides of the culture war divide. Benedetto's anecdote brings into sharp focus the power held by the mass media to set the agenda in the USA. Even while viewers are glued to their televisions or newspapers, exactly what they are watching or reading has become less clear, as lines between news analysis and news reporting have been blurred.

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The Handbook of Media and Mass Communication Theory