1. THIS MORNING:
1. Public opinion and democracy
2. How the mass media cover and present the news.



2. THE QUALITY OF PUBLIC OPINION:
1. The people in a democratic system: what role do they play; what role could they play.
2. Views of public opinion
1. Read "Two Views of Public Opinion"
2. The "Hamilton school" see the public as misinformed, apathetic, self-centered, irrational, not to be trusted with the reins of power.
1. Hence deference is "functional" for the system.
3. The "Jefferson school" has greater faith in the common person.
1. People are capable of self-government
2. Whatever faults they have as citizens political institutions and practices are to blame.
1. The mass media
2. The conduct of campaigns and elections
3. The nature of political discourse in America
3. Main point: when discussing the "quality" of citizenship keep political institutions and practices in mind.



3. THE MASS MEDIA - MAIN ARGUMENTS:
1. Greatly influence the public's understanding of the world
1. Trends in usage
2. The creation of reality (see below)
2. Information availability: mass versus elite media
1. Concentrated ownership
3. The media do not have a meaningful liberal bias.
1. If anything they are conservative, conservative in the older sense of the term.
4. The media inadvertently discourage enlightened understanding, political participation, and hence democracy through accountability.



4. CHARACTERISTICS OF NEWS PRESENTATION:
1. The media do no supply a direct, unadulterated photo of "reality."
1. The "mirror" analogy and myth of objectivity
2. Instead they must choose what stories they will tell and how they will tell them.
2. In this sense, the media inevitably "create realities" (note the plural) as well as describe it.
3. Here are some generalizations. Check them by looking at the "popular" press (network news and local newspapers) to see if they are accurate.
1. Government point of view: official interpretations of events and issues are the primary source and topic of most news stories. One seldom finds independent accounts or analysis.
2. Personalization: news stories are most frequently reported in personal terms. How individuals are affected by an event. Who won, who lost, who was hurt or helped, etc. Compare the number of statements about or by individuals with the number about policy content.

1. Fragmentation: stories are usually short, superficial, devoid of contextual explanation (i.e, they do not show how on issue relates to another or how it depends on prior history, etc.).
2. Drama: Wherever possible the story's dramatic and emotional elements are emphasized. As the narrator talks what visual images are portrayed. What feelings does the story arouse? Are you angered, saddened, gladdened, etc. or are you "informed." Is coverage dispassionate or does it arouse your feelings?

1. Politics over substance: the "political" aspects of news (who did what to whom) frequently overshadow the "why" parts of the matter.
2. Remoteness: there is usually little effort to show the individual how a controversy relates to his or her personal life or interests.

1. Mystification: reports usually do not explain issues or policies or controversies to the reader or viewer. Because emphasis is on personalities and drama, the substance is often left out.
1. NEXT TIME:
1. More discussion and illustrations of news presentation
2. How politicians use the media to their advantage.
1. Are the media the watchdogs of democracy?
3. Reading: "Two Views of Public Opinion," and "The Mass Media and Enlightened Understanding" (Two essays.)

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