What sources (newspaper columns, programs, organisations, blogs, etc) do you consider to be relatively influential wrt shaping public opinion on political matters? Eg. the most respected, the greatest reach, the best ads, etc.
What sources (newspaper columns, programs, organisations, blogs, etc) do you consider to be relatively influential wrt shaping public opinion on political matters? Eg. the most respected, the greatest reach, the best ads, etc.
None. People watch/read what they already believe. They're rarely convinced by the media. The exceptions would be when their own views aren't well-formed and the media has a very simple and clear message (which isn't particularly often; an example of the media actually having an effect would be "children are dying in Africa").
What does shape public opinion, then? It certainly isn't fact-based individual analysis :D
From my observation, peer pressure, mostly.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nessus
It's actually most strongly affected by events on the ground, though those tend to be interpreted in a rather simplistic manner.Quote:
Originally Posted by Nessus
This is a very complex topic with lots of research on it by the way. There's a role for elites, peer pressure, the community, etc. There are also different types of opinion, some held more strongly than others, etc.
Tbh I'm mostly wondering about influencing the fuzzy... ie. the opinions of those who are somewhat undecided, on matters that they know little about.
Also about how to steer the already-convinced, eg. liberal media guiding liberals on favoured topics and favoured arguments.
I disagree with your characterization of media usage. As a channel flipper and insomniac, I'm anecdotal proof that one can watch the usual network programs, plus CNN (US and global versions)/MSNBC/CNBC/PBS/Fox/C-Span....and happen onto the occasional broadcasts of 'underground stuff' on obscure cable channels before they suddenly turn into paid programming.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki
I'm also an AM/FM radio flipper, so I'll listen to NPR as well as Rush Limbaugh. I don't buy many newspapers these days, but they're all there on the newsstand---and scanning the front pages from Baltimore to LA is rather fun. (I've never had a vendor tell me to buy the papers I'm reading on my way to the cashier ;)
The internet means I can read all sorts of international news, and even rags. That doesn't mean my own views aren't well-formed, or that I'm looking for a very simple and clear "message". It just means I enjoy reading diverse sources, and seeing their presentations/perspectives. They often have their own "Debate and Discussion" going on, with op-ed writers quoting other news sources and criticizing those writers' analyses. The NYT and WSJ are big on that. :p