Does the media influence politics, or do politics influence media?

Question

Does the media influence politics, or do politics influence media?

Answer 1

As of late, I would say media influences politics or the general public way of thinking i.e. reporting or harping on things that have absolutely nothing to do with the real issues Americans are facing.

Answer 2

I'd say the media has way too much influence on politics.

Answer 3

The Labour Government is collapsing in popularity at the moment over here and one of the reasons for this is that compared to Tony Blair he looks awkward on tv.

These days I think goverments on both sides of the Atlantic are increasingly worried about how things will play out in the media which influences public opinion.

So in answer to your question is that the media (at least in the UK) at the moment has a much greater influence on government than visa versa. Indeed whenever the government tries to overtly influence the media in this country it is met with huge resistance.

This being said goverment does have an indirect influence on the media and there will always be goverment alligned companies who will put a more pro gov spin on things than others.

Unfortunately the UK and USA are in a small minority of countries which have a (relatively) free press.

Answer 4

The media, politicians, big religion, corporations are all the same people: Bush's base, the haves and have mores, the multibillionaires.  They decide what the other 99% of us will perceive as reality, which is why we get Britney Spears coverage and Super nanny instead of what the oil companies are doing in the Niger Delta and Iraq, or where our $5,000.00 in taxes per second that go to Iraq end up.

Answer 5

Both.

Answer 6

I would say neither, because media is mostly influenced by the richest politicians, not from politics itself.

.

Answer 7

Both, but primarily the former.  The media had chosen their "top 3" candidates from the Democratic & Republican parties early on, and stupid people narrowed their choices based on who the media said were the "front runners."  

For example,  when Ron Paul had raised more money than any of the other GOP candidates, they scarcely made mention of him and treated him as a fringe candidate.  They narrowed it down to Edwards, Obama, Clinton for the Dems and McCain, Romney, Giuliani for the Reps right off the bat.  They make it seem as though voting for who you believe in and agree with on the issues is a "wasted vote" but voting for the "lesser of two evils" who they deem "electable" is not. Stupid people believe them and vote accordingly. It really amazes me when I talk to voters about their choices and why they made them.

When's the last time you heard of a "third" party candidate?  Libertarian?  Green party?  Can you even name other parties or their candidates in this election?  Most people can't, and it's because they lazily rely on biased mainstream media sources to provide them with "objective information" (i.e. propaganda) they call "news".

Answer 8

Politics use media so that media can support some ideas presented by the politicians.