The Press and American Politics The New Mediator

This book analyzes the power of the American print and electronic press in the political process. Davis argues that the press has greater autonomy than at any time in the more than 200 years of U.S. history, but as an intermediary between the government and the governed, its greatest power is to set agendas, not to dictate political opinions on the agenda items. Despite recent gains in autonomy, the electronic media still are less free of government influence than are print media. Part 1 characterizes the news gatherers and the newsmakers. Part 2 describes the evolution of the political role of the media through U.S. history. Part 3 describes how the press treats each of of the three branches of the Federal government. Part 4 deals with coverage of foreign affairs and public policy, and Part 5 with coverage of campaigns and elections. ISBN 0-8013-0153-X: $20.00.