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.
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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.
The introduction of cable television and the internet had significant impacts on news consumption and political engagement, with the latter posing complex challenges for analysis.
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.
Constituting the Self-Governing Class
The book 'Hooked' explores political interest and the self-governing class, which refers to individuals who actively participate in shaping collective decisions. The self-governing class is motivated and engaged in politics, while a significant portion of the population falls into the non-governing class, lacking political interest. This class distinction is not based on traditional socioeconomic factors but on individual motivations. While there are concerns about differences in preferences within the self-governing class, the book primarily focuses on the issue of political motivation. It examines the challenges of constituting the self-governing class and how education and other interventions can potentially influence political interest. The book also highlights the limited short-term solutions for addressing the composition of the self-governing class.
Engaging the Public: Citizen Assemblies and the Future
To address the issue of political interest and participation, some countries have implemented citizen assemblies, where a representative sample of the population is randomly selected for informed deliberation on specific issues. While such approaches can contribute to a more representative democracy, their effectiveness in increasing political interest is debatable. The self-governing class largely consists of individuals already motivated to participate. Citizen assemblies might attract those with existing interest but may not significantly influence the broader population. However, exploring participatory elements and engaging more people in decision-making processes could potentially cultivate political interest over time. The long-term effects of these interventions and their ability to shape democracy require further examination.
The Evolution of Cable TV and the Rise of 24-Hour News
The early decades of cable television primarily focused on entertainment channels like HBO and ESPN, with limited news coverage. The introduction of CNN in the early 1980s marked the emergence of the first 24-hour news channel, leading to a shift in audience preferences. As cable TV provided more entertainment options, the viewership for traditional news decreased, impacting the political landscape as less politically motivated individuals sought alternative programming. The scale of this change is difficult to quantify due to measurement limitations, but there was a significant shift in the number of people watching news from broadcast stations in the late 1970s compared to the late 1990s. Additionally, the ideological content of cable news networks began to differentiate in the 2000s, with Fox News and MSNBC adopting more polarized positions, recognizing the profitability of catering to specific audiences.
The Challenges of Analyzing Political Engagement in the Internet Era
While the impact of cable television on news consumption has been extensively studied, analyzing the influence of the internet presents greater challenges. The internet's evolution, from an additional source of non-political content alongside cable channels, to the proliferation of social media and sophisticated targeting algorithms, has made it increasingly complex to understand its effects on political engagement. The rise of surveillance capitalism, where internet platforms exploit user data to personalize content and ads, further complicates the analysis. Considering the business models and dynamics of social media platforms, more research is needed to examine how these platforms shape individuals' worldview and political engagement. However, due to the rapidly evolving nature of the internet and digital technologies, there is currently no definitive analysis that comprehensively incorporates these factors into understanding political motivation and preferences.
What was media like? How has media changed? In this episode, we talk to Princeton Professor Markus Prior about the architecture of public media, over the period of what he calls "broadcast democracy," and in the period we're living within today. How does that architecture affect the politics that is possible?
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