Political Control of the News: Bennett/Edelman Readings

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Political Control of the NewsBennett/Edelman
Readings

• Milburn
• Psych 335

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BennettPoliticians Control of News

• What are different types of news (in terms of
  political control) that Bennett identifies?
• What ways do politicians try to manipulate news
  and their images in them?

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Keepers of Bush Image Lift Stagecraft to New
Heights (NYT)
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9/11
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Mission Accomplished
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Mission Accomplished
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Mission Accomplished
URL
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What are the cognitions that Edelman argues that
governments try to generate?

• There is popular participation and influence on
  policy making
• Particular groups are hostile and evil
• Political leaders can cope and will cope with
  issues that baffle the public
• Particular groups are friendly and benevolent
  (allies)
• Particular kinds of actions are evil and immoral

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What does this mean?

• Governments try to influence the way the public
  thinks about political issues and events

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So, our 8th grade model of democracy is again
seen as too limited
Public Opinion Government actions
We need to keep in mind a more complex model
Public Opinion Government actions