First published 1997
Richard Reeves assembles an unprecedented gathering of voices to examine whether mass media controls the political process. Academics present their latest research findings while seasoned reporters share battlefield experiences from campaign trails and press rooms. Political consultants reveal their media manipulation strategies as policy makers describe how news coverage shapes their decisions. The collision of these perspectives creates friction over fundamental questions about journalistic influence. Campaign operatives explain how they craft messages for maximum impact while scholars analyze the psychological effects of news presentation on voter behavior. Elected officials describe their complex dance with reporters who can make or break political careers. The book exposes the invisible forces that determine which stories reach the public and how news production really works behind the scenes. Each contributor brings hard-won expertise to debates about media power, creating a multifaceted examination of political communication in America. The result reveals the deep tensions between those who create news, those who study it, and those who must navigate its consequences in the corridors of power.
Genres: american, political-science, non-fiction, communication, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: informed-consent, investigative-journalism
488 pages · Hardcover · SAGE Publications, Inc