New Government Communication: Political Communication in the Post-Industrial Society

Author: Norris Gu Jianguang (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: In recent decades, a prominent phenomenon in Western society has been the apathy of citizens towards politics, with low voter turnout in elections and a clear inclination towards consumerism and entertainment. A popular view in the West suggests that this is intrinsically linked to the political communication and interaction processes of new media and parties. However, the author of this book holds a different opinion on this traditional view. In the book, the author conducts a comparative study on the roles of news media and parties in post-industrial societies, with the core research conclusion being that instead of mistakenly focusing all attention on criticizing the methods of news media coverage, it is better to understand and confront the deeper-rooted problems within Western representative democracy. The author believes that although some negative reporting by the news media may adversely affect public support for specific policy issues, there is still a consistent and positive relationship between public attention to the news media and their understanding of political knowledge, trust in the government, and political participation. This book is suitable for students and teachers of public administration.