{"id":41,"date":"2025-08-07T20:16:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-07T20:16:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routledgelearning.com\/politicsuk\/?p=41"},"modified":"2025-10-10T11:05:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T11:05:42","slug":"chapter-9","status":"publish","type":"content","link":"https:\/\/routledgelearning.com\/politicsuk\/part-3-the-representative-process\/chapter-9\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 9"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n\tHome\n<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Chapter 9<\/h1>\n\n\n

The mass media and political communication<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Chapter Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The spoken voice was the main form of political communication until the spread of newspapers in the nineteenth century. Broadcasting introduced a revolution into the way politics is conducted as its spread is instant and its influence so great. New political actors have emerged specialising in the media, and politicians have learned to master their techniques. Press news values tend to influence television also, but the latter is more vulnerable to political pressure than the already politicised press. Class dominance theories suggest that the media are no more than an instrument of the ruling class, but there is reason to believe that they exercise considerable independence and are not incompatible with democracy.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Learning Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • To explain the workings of the media: press and broadcasting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To encourage an understanding of how the media interact and influence voting, elections and the rest of the political system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To explain the significance of the new social\/digital media.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • To discuss how the pluralist and Marxist dominance theories seek to explain how the media operate and influence society.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Quizzes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Test your knowledge with the Chapter 9 quizzes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Quiz<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n