POLI1001 Lecture Notes - Barnaby Joyce, Agenda-Setting Theory, Hypodermic Needle
Document Summary
The term media is typically utilised as a method to describe institutions, bodies and individuals who communicate information to a broad audience. There are various forms of media that communicate with the public such as print (newspapers and magazines), and broadcast (television, radio and the internet). Why the news media matters in a democracy: The media performs the following roles in relation to democratic politics and the political public; Firstly informational, the media provides news and political information to the public. Secondly, the media is deliberative as it fosters exchanges of views and knowledge, through avenues such as basic reporting and political debates. Thirdly, the media is representative, it provides an outlet for the reflection and conveyance of public opinion. Lastly and most importantly, the media is an accountability mechanism, where the news media acts as a watchdog to hold politicians to account for their actions or inactions.