Readings:

This learning units is based on and follows the structure of Chapter 1: Media Power and Governmental Control

in our textbook:

Mass Media and American Politics (by Johanna Dunaway and Doris. A. Graber)

You may also find interesting following articles:

• News Coverage in the 2016 General Election
• Censorship in China
• Social Credit System

Introduction

The art of pushing the agenda (Phineas T. Barnum and Donald Trump)

Functions of Mass Communication

That we get mass media to gather information is obvious and has been discussed in depth in previous learning units. We use the media to get information about those events that do not happen in our closest environment. We have already learned a variety of theories that explain the impact of mass media on our perception of the reality. You should be familiar at this point with concepts such us agenda setting, agenda building, cultivation, framing or priming.

In this section we will focus on the rest of the social functions of mass communication, those that go beyond information.

• Surveillance
• Interpretation
• Articulation
• Entertainment
• Socialization

Media Control

The question “Who controls the news” is essential to differentiate between democratic and autocratic state models.

Democracy only works on the assumption that the citizens are well informed. Without reliable information, we cannot not expect any educated judgment. The quality of democracy decreases when que information the citizens have available deteriorates.

In this video, I explore the difference between the media control model in autocratic and democratic states.