Media's Influence on Public Opinion

Paper Summary:

This paper argues that the press is biased in favor of the Republicans. Examples of how the press reports in a positive manner about Republican values and politicians and in a negative manner about Democratic values and politicians are cited to illustrate this bias.The paper shows how this bias positively influences public opinion regarding the Republicans and negatively influences public opinion regarding the Democrats.

From the Paper:

"Since the election of Jimmy Carter in 1976, the press has, generally, favored Republicans. To be sure, Jimmy Carter was elected, and so was Bill Clinton, another Democrat. Carter was not re-elected; Clinton was, but by the end of his second term, even his charisma could not carry the nation's regard, especially as an increasingly conservative mood gripped more than just the very few owners of the conglomerate news media. And, increasingly, the press was negative. The Monica Lewinsky affair, reported by a press increasingly enamored of "family values", ensured that Clinton's achievements would be eclipsed in the public consciousness by his very human failings."

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