The Development of a More Partisan Media
Chapter 6 of Edward S. Greenberg’s The Struggle for Democracy discusses in depth the importance of media and press to the United States’ political process and government as a whole. Though this chapter has key extensive discussions of the news media’s role as a “watchdog over government” and the role of “infotainment” in the media today, the idea of an increasingly partisan media is hardly discussed (Greenberg 155 and 166). Due to our discussion in class on Tuesday about the improvements our system of government and media could gain from a more partisan press, I have decided to research this topic for further understanding.
The assertion that a more partisan media would improve citizens’ education on political topics is not a new one, as in the 19th century in America it is well known that newspapers (as the only media outlet of the time) were extremely partisan and polarizing. People during this time period would read the newspapers or editorials of the people they agreed with, and thus gain a more extensive political knowledge of what their views aligned with. However, as media gained control through radio, television and, later, the internet, news outlets began taking a more bipartisan line, as an attempt to appeal to more viewers. Mainstream media became about making money and commercialization, rather than informing people of government actions. As James L. Baughman says, “these new advertisers all but insisted that editors expand their reach, and be less partisan,” (Baughman).
It can be argued now however that partisan media is making a comeback. Studies in the Journal of Public Economics show that the more partisan channel of FOX has had a greater impact on voters in presidential in recent years than it did in the past. Since FOX is focusing on mostly republican citizens, the study found, “evidence of positive effects both for issues that were more favorable to Republicans and for issues that Fox covered more often,” (Schroeder). Some studies even argue that the increase in partisan media has strengthened the amount of political polarization currently affecting our country. Though these partisan news sources of FOX and MSNBC are still far from as polarizing as those newspapers printed and distributed in the 19th century, we are nearing a more partisan mainstream media daily, due partially to the increasing divisions between the Democrat and Republican parties.
To conclude, a partisan media is one which America could potentially benefit from due to the utter lack of education on the issues that most voting citizens are struggling with now. However, it is important to note the issues with a partisan media as well, as it can lead to voter ignorance on what the other party is doing, or can detract from significant issues that one party deems unimportant. All in all, the issue of partisan media is a complex one, and I would not be surprised if we start to see more and more of a media divide in the coming years.