Political Communication Today (Politics Today) - Softcover

The 1990s has become the era of the soundbite and the sharp suit, where presentational style and performance in the media are at least as important, if not more so, as the message being conveyed. This text sets out to explore the relationship between politicians and the media, providing a study of modern political communications. It begins with a factual account of the development and the role of the press and television in Britain, before moving on to examine the issues of ownership, bias and the effects of the media. Other aspects of communication are then discussed, including the value of the political interview and the impact of televising parliamentary proceedings. The author goes on to question the Americanization of elections in Britain, which, though seen by some as a harmless development, is seen by others as detrimental to the atmosphere of reasoned and rational argument in which democracy is said to flourish.