CONTENTS:- Preface 1. Political Journalism the Zimbabwean Way 2. Political Journalism and Europeanization 3. Newspapers and Claims-Making Over Europe: An Overview 4. Political Journalism in America 5. Advertising and Promotion in Political Journalism 6. Media Pluralism and Politics in Democratizing Societies 7. Political Journalism and Democracy 8. Media Convergence, Diversity, Democracy and Politics 9. Politics and Journalism as Spectacle
DESCRIPTION
In countries where freedom of the press is not restricted, the media can adopt three main positions in their relationship to political parties and politicians. The first is to serve as loyal channels for particular parties and politicians, acting as reliable partners and enabling them to exercise a high degree of control over their political messages. Parties in such a position can feel sure that their political message will reach the votes and that their positions will be defended in the struggle for their favour. The second position is for the media to function as an independent arena, making broadcasting time and column space available to political actors of different shades of opinion. Neutral media of this kind place greater demands on the communicative skills of the politicians, in a political terrain in which none have protection against unfavourable comment and all are without permanent allies.
