Soft news goes to war: public opinion and American foreign policy in the new media age

by Baum, Matthew A.

Type Book

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Title Statements

Full title :Soft news goes to war : public opinion and American foreign policy in the new media age / Matthew A. Baum.

Summary

"The American public has consistently declared itself less concerned with foreign affairs in the post-Cold War era, even after 9/11, than at any time since World War II. How can it be, then, that public attentiveness to U.S. foreign policy crises has increased? This book represents the first systematic attempt to explain this apparent paradox. Matthew Baum argues that the answer lies in changes to television's presentation of political information. In so doing he develops a compelling "byproduct" theory of information consumption. The information revolution has fundamentally changed the way the mass media, especially television, covers foreign policy. Traditional news has been repackaged into numerous entertainment-oriented news programs and talk shows. By transforming political issues involving scandal or violence (especially attacks against America) into entertainment, the "soft news" media have actually captured more viewers who will now follow news about foreign crises, due to its entertainment value, even if they remain uninterested in foreign policy."--Jacket.

Edition Statements

Publication Date:©2003.

Publication Statements

Publisher(s):Princeton University Press
Place of Publication:Princeton, N.J
Language:eng
Publication Date:©2003.

The Physical Object

Description:xii, 353 pages : : illustrations ; : 25 cm

Edition Identifiers

ISBN:0691115869, 9780691115863, 9780691123776, 0691123772
oclc:ocm51264466
LC Classification:PN4888.T4
Dewey Decimal:070.1/95

Subjects

05.32 public opinion 89.90 foreign policy Außenpolitik Berichterstattung Buitenlandse politiek Etats-Unis -- Relations extérieures Fernsehen Magazine format television programs Magazine format television programs -- … Magazines télévisés -- États-Unis Massenmedien Nieuwsprogramma's Öffentliche Meinung Publieke opinie Téléjournaux -- États-Unis Télévision -- Émissions de nouvelles --… Television broadcasting of news Television broadcasting of news -- Unit… United States United States -- Foreign relations