The Problem of the Media: U.S. Communication Politics in the 21st Century is a book by Robert W. McChesney first published in 2004 by Monthly Review Press. The book discusses issues within journalism (e.g. biased news, declining quality of content, etc.), as well as weaknesses in the media sector, and new ways to regulate such.
Analysis
In further analysis of identifying the problem with media as it relates to politics is to understand that political science in academia is very much a sideline subject matter that does not carry the weight it perhaps should on American politics and elections. The higher education discipline that does deal more with the impact of media bias on politics is communications. Research by Graber and Smith (2005) shows the importance and small change to begin to better understand the impact of the media and politics.
McChesney references multiple future directions and 10 targets to give political communication scholars better insight into the neglected aspect of the impact and issues facing politics and media in the 21st century. These targets include:
- Communications policy formulation;
- Preserving an open marketplace of ideas;
- Global cultural differences;
- Media as agents of political socialization;
- Public information campaigns;
- The rhetoric of political leaders;
- The rhetoric of negotiations;
- Learning limitations; and
- Network analyses.
Shirky (2011) first describes the 2001 impeachment trial of Philippine President Joseph Estrada. How mass text messages created crowds of protesters coordinated by text messages that shut down the city of Manila and the response changing the course of the hearing. Shirky continues: