This comprehensive reader is the first book dealing with the media and American politics that brings together the perspectives of academics, reporters, commentators, campaign consultants, and policy advocates. The contributions blend together the best social science research on political communication with the expertise of some of this country’s leading journalists and political consultants. Unlike most other treatments, this volume covers the full range of research issues, including the forces that influence the production of news stories, the relationship between reporters and elected officials, the use of the media in political campaigns, the effects of news presentations on public opinion, and the increasing importance of the mass media in the policy process. This thorough book provides coverage of everything from the Gulf War to journalistic code and will be valuable for courses in political communication, public opinion, and related undergraduate courses.

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Edited volume, most pieces not written for this book. Iyengar is a very well known political scientist; Reeves is a tv political commentator/journalist. Contributors are all big names (the usual "all-star lineup"). Book and part introductions provide thorough pedagogy for students. Biggest market in Intro Am. Govt (about 800,000 students take this course each year). Roughly half of these courses use readers like Iyengar in addition to core text.