Role of Media in Politics

Professor Adams responds to a caller about the role of media in politics. Professor Adams thinks that the media fails to cover substantive issues and policy positions. Part of his thesis is that it is important for our leaders to be good communicators. I agree with both of those statements. First, I totally agree that newspapers and news shows are no covering substantive issues. I believe that newspapers and tv shows are covering issues that they know will attract and entertain the reader/ viewer since they are concerned with the amount of readers and viewers they have. Reading about a candidate’s stance on different issues does not really sound all that entertaining. Second, I think it is very important for the candidates to be good communicators. This is especially true if Kernell’s “Going Public” theory is correct. In order to influence the citizens about a particular policy, presidents need to be good speakers.