Another Way, by Lawrence Lessig cover image

Another Way, by Lawrence Lessig

S5E11: Gashed Hull: Broadcast Democracy: Markus Prior

Nov 28, 2023
Markus Prior, Princeton Professor, discusses the architecture of public media and how it affects politics. They explore the evolution of technology, the rise of broadcast television, the emergence of cable news networks, and the challenges of identifying political interest. They also discuss whether voters are willing to bear short-term costs for long-term benefits, using the example of addressing climate change.
01:08:05

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • During the era of broadcast democracy, the architecture of media influenced the character of democracy, creating a politically aware but somewhat superficial audience.
  • The book 'Hooked' analyzes the self-governing class and political interest, exploring the challenges of constituting and influencing this engaged group.

Deep dives

The Impact of Broadcast Democracy

During the period of broadcast democracy from the 1960s to 1980s, the architecture of media significantly affected the character of democracy. People were exposed to the same news broadcasts, creating a captive audience that became more politically aware. While there are concerns about the limited diversity of issues covered, the business model of broadcast media at the time prioritized providing a mainstream, down-the-middle story to a broad audience. This led to a certain level of political knowledge among the public, although it was still somewhat superficial. The absence of a competitive entertainment motive kept the focus on news and reduced polarization. This unique period had a significant impact on shaping the political landscape of that era.

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