POLITICS AND THE MEDIA

In this book, a scholar examines the complex relationship between politics and the media in the United States.

A former media correspondent for the Los Angeles Times and current associate professor in the School of Communication at American University, Hall is a frequent commentator in some of the U.S.’s most influential newspapers and television news outlets. In addition to this impressive resume, the author has taught a course entitled “Politics and the Media” for years. This tour de force, described by Hall as “a culmination of my professional, scholarly, and teaching experience,” is a timely addition to national and academic debates on the media’s role in shaping political discourse. From the rise of “fake news” and social media disinformation campaigns to the rejections by millions of Americans of the 2020 election results and the Covid-19 scientific consensus, the author writes, “major news organizations have seen attacks on their credibility and even their right to report.” Despite growing public skepticism toward the media, Hall notes, most Americans still believe in its pivotal role as a watchdog institution. And even with the attacks in recent years, the media continue to play a central role in shaping and directing national political conversations. In this well-researched, convincingly argued work, the author explores “how we got here, what is happening today, and what may be future directions” of the politics and media relationship.

Divided into eight chapters, the book provides an overview and historical contextualization of the current media and political landscape in the first four sections. They also offer expert analysis on the modern media’s theoretical and ethical underpinnings and the evolution of political advertising in presidential elections since World War II. The volume’s second half takes a more thematic approach, with chapters that focus on in-depth coverage of social media, race, immigration, women, and media globalization. Combined, the work’s chapters provide sound analysis on important topics related to the future of democratic politics and the media, including the impact of the deregulation and consolidation of news outlets, ethical debates regarding bias in reporting, and media narratives about race, gender, and civil rights. The book is well versed in the scholarly literature as well as pop-culture references found in contemporary television shows and movies. But what stands out in the volume’s research is its utilization of interviews conducted by the author that provide a range of perspectives on the media and politics from the vantage points of U.S. senators, journalists, critics, and activists. Reflecting Hall’s experiences in engaging with the general public, the book is written in a jargon-free style with ample subheadings that make for an accessible read beyond academia. This endeavor is complemented by a generous array of photographs from various sources, diagrams, timelines, text-box vignettes, and other visual aids. After the introductory section, each of the work’s chapters follows a format that includes a revelatory case study, a summary, and an “End-of-Chapter Assignment” for research and discussion by readers, turning this into an ideal classroom text. At 400 pages, the volume does sacrifice brevity for breadth. While the bulky material requires a significant time commitment from readers, the book’s comprehensive nature makes this a definitive resource on politics and the media for years to come.

An important, balanced survey of the intersection of politics and the media.