Page 112 - An Introduction to Political Communication Third Edition

THE MEDIA AS POLITICAL ACTORS

Further reading
For a detailed discussion of the development of commentary
columns, political access programming and other forms
of political journalism, see Journalism and Democracy
(McNair, 2000). Barnett and Gaber’s Westminster Tales
presents a critique of contemporary political journalism
in the UK. Kuhn and Neveu’s edited collection of essays
on Political Journalism (2002) provide an international
comparative perspective on political journalism.

CONCLUSION TO PART I

In the first part of this book we have now done five things.

• First, the normative role of the media in liberal democratic
politics was defined.
• Second, the media environment within which contemporary
politics, and political journalism in particular, must be pursued
has been described.
• Third, we have outlined the effects of debate, as it relates to
political communication.
• We then looked at those determinants of the media production
process which shape the extent to which politics is covered and
how it is covered.
• And finally, a description was given of the many forms in which
media professionals talk about politics or provide platforms
and spaces for others to do so.

Throughout the preceding chapters, we have stressed the
importance for those involved in politics of knowing and under-
standing how the media works. Part II will consider how and with
what degree of success political actors of various kinds have applied
this knowledge to the construction and presentation of effective
political communication.

91