Media in Politics and Policy
Dan Bartlett, Jeff Patterson
It's nearly impossible to understand the working of politics and policymaking without appreciating the integral role of the media in shaping the public dialogue. The purpose of this course is to enhance students' understanding of the influences of modern mass media upon the dynamics of politics and policymaking in the public sphere. This is not a course in either journalism or public relations, but students should leave the course confident to interact successfully with different types of media in their careers, possess the analytical abilities to critically analyze media messages, and understand how the framing and discourse of issues in an increasingly diverse public media sphere shape political attitudes, knowledge, behaviors, and policy outcomes.