American Democracy

It is argued that the media plays a crucial role in the American democracy. The press has been always present and has acquired a magnitude of privilege that no other industry enjoys in the American Constitution. It is widely observed that many journalists of United States view themselves as protectors of the system of government and this is also echoed by the framers of the Constitution. This role if pursued by media with passion is bound to bring discomfort from those in power hence resulting to tension between the politicians and the press. The public is therefore caught in the middle and thus sometimes forced to agree with the press on certain issues and to side with the politicians other times. The press exhibits the political power and this has become a subject to look into by many people. The American press has been blamed and praised on many aspects of political life. The political system only survives because of the media and vise and versa, (Emery, M and Edwin E, 2000).

The contemporary media has become more pervasive than it was a few decades ago. The growth in the usage of mass media and its availability are the facts to note in the America life. The primary examples of mass media are Television, which spread across the nation in the early 1950s and the Internet which is spreading like bush fire throughout the country. Print media has a wider following more especially by the Americans who can influence the political process. The political talk radio carved itself a niche and this led to mushrooming of many radio stations over the past two decades, thus Americans spent more time listening to them as they go about their activities.

The development of press-politician relations in America has been regarded as twofold. In the first part the politicians got more dependent on the press as the political parties weakened in 1960s and second politicians went ahead to use press for their own benefit but the journalist responded aggressively by defending their role as society’s watchdog for democracy.

The candidates were forced to cultivate good relationships with the voters as a result of the weakening of the political parties system and this was done through the mass media. The transition from party centered system to a candidate centered system meant that both politicians and the public had to depend on the news media for vital information.

President Ronald Reagan is highly viewed with awe because of his relationship with the news media. Reagan turned the media more especially the television into a national megaphone to propel his policies. Reagan pioneered news management techniques though the press and the public take it for granted, (Emery, M and Edwin E, 2000).

Reference

Emery, M and Edwin E, (2000). The Press and America: Evolution of the Mass Media. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.