The tabloidisation of politics Lecture 8

The Vicious Circle Politicians Spin Public Cynical Journalists Spin

Media Consumption: Influencers vs. General Population Influencers are voracious consumers of media They put more emphasis on person-to-person channels They are big fans of national newspapers and talk radio

Influencers are voracious consumers of media

They put more emphasis on person-to-person channels

They are big fans of national newspapers and talk radio

Influencers are using new media channels and devices at twice the rate of GP They have embraced new mediums such as podcasts and videocasts They are much more interested in blogs than GP PR Implication: Rethink the methods used to reach them Media Consumption: Influencers vs. General Population

Influencers are using new media channels and devices at twice the rate of GP

They have embraced new mediums such as podcasts and videocasts

They are much more interested in blogs than GP

PR Implication: Rethink the methods used to reach them

First Choice for News and Information Sources: Influencers vs. GP Just like consumers state-side, most in the U.K. turn first to television and the Internet to get information, but Influencers elaborate on TV news!

Just like consumers state-side, most in the U.K. turn first to television and the Internet to get information, but Influencers elaborate on TV news!

But: what the people watch

The impact upon politics News competes with other genres News focuses on key frames Conflict Personal lives Mistakes Journalists are adversarial Rise of the Rottweiler (Barnett) Political Information is marginalised Politics is dramatised / but drama can be politicised

News competes with other genres

News focuses on key frames

Conflict

Personal lives

Mistakes

Journalists are adversarial

Rise of the Rottweiler (Barnett)

Political Information is marginalised

Politics is dramatised / but drama can be politicised

Relocating Politics Politics moves into other genres Real-life TV The bear-pit Comedy Drama But what images are constructed for us?

Politics moves into other genres

Real-life TV

The bear-pit

Comedy

Drama

But what images are constructed for us?

Cultivation theory (Gerbner & Gross, 1976)

Blockbuster Democracy Joe Mathews ‘The People's Machine’ 2006 Political attitudes & perceptions shaped more by movies, pop culture than politics Result is a merger in style of communication / presentation The rise and success of the celebrity politician

Joe Mathews ‘The People's Machine’ 2006

Political attitudes & perceptions shaped more by movies, pop culture than politics

Result is a merger in style of communication / presentation

The rise and success of the celebrity politician

Cultivation Theory Revisited What do we learn about politics?

What do we learn about politics?

And our perception of politicians?

Possible Effects Politics is viewed as part of popular culture Politicians are ‘emotionalised’ Politics/Politicians not taken seriously Politics is not seen as important Politicians are seen as idiotic

Politics is viewed as part of popular culture

Politicians are ‘emotionalised’

Politics/Politicians not taken seriously

Politics is not seen as important

Politicians are seen as idiotic

The dumbing down of politics Public are not informed properly Politicians talk in simple soundbites Debate is stifled Media malaise Cynicism in politics But whose fault is it??

Public are not informed properly

Politicians talk in simple soundbites

Debate is stifled

Media malaise

Cynicism in politics

But whose fault is it??

In defence of dumbing down Makes politics more accessible Makes politics interesting The disengaged are more aware of policy making (see work of Michael Temple)

Makes politics more accessible

Makes politics interesting

The disengaged are more aware of policy making

(see work of Michael Temple)

Thoughts Is there evidence all media dumb down? Is there evidence media compete with other genres when presenting information? Is dumbing down good or bad? Based on your conclusion, how should politicians promote themselves?

Is there evidence all media dumb down?

Is there evidence media compete with other genres when presenting information?

Is dumbing down good or bad?

Based on your conclusion, how should politicians promote themselves?