PSC 300: Media and Politics
The media have long been
recognized as a key part of American politics. Reflecting the oft-cited
designation of the press as the “fourth branch” of government, political
observers from the earliest days of the republic noted the indispensable
role of the mass media in a democratic society. Even before the signing of
the Constitution, the seminal debate between the Federalists and
Anti-Federalists over its adoption took place in the newspaper. News
outlets, moreover, have a long tradition as agents of partisan warfare,
promoting and perpetuating party loyalties and voter turnout in the 19th and
early 20th centuries. And in January 2006, the chairman of the Senate
Judiciary Committee claimed the fate of a recent failed Bush Supreme Court
nominee had been decided not by the Senate but on “radio talk shows, TV talk
shows, and the op-ed pages.” In other words, it is difficult to comprehend
American politics without understanding the mass media.
This course provides an overview of the media’s role in American
political life. In doing so, we will focus on several broad themes: the
relationship between the media and government; the process of newsmaking and
how it shapes the content of political news; the effects of the media on
public opinion and voting behavior; and the critical changes to the media
environment taking place today. We will devote many of our class discussions
and readings to scholarship in political science and communications. But we
will also pay special attention to the content of the news we encounter
every day—be it about the historic contest between Barack Obama and John
McCain, the war in Iraq, the revealing of secret anti-terrorism programs, or
the coverage of political debates.
Syllabus (Fall 2008)
PSC 121: American National Government and Politics
This course provides a survey
of the political processes and institutions of American government. I know
what you might be thinking—that sounds boring. Let me assure you, this
course will be anything but. The bulk of American political history has been
characterized by drama and conflict, and our investigation of American
politics will include a focus on topics like September 11, the civil rights
movement, the 2008 presidential election, and the debate over gay marriage,
just to name a few. Controversial, always; boring, never. Each of these
political issues and events—and most others—can be seen most clearly through
the lens of the historical and institutional development of the American
political system. Our lectures, readings, and discussions will touch on the
Constitution, the presidency, the judiciary, political parties, voting, and
public policymaking, among other topics. In all of this, our focus will be
on how the basic features of American government illuminate the stories and
events that appear in the news every day, be it the war on terrorism or the
price of milk at Wegman’s.
Syllabus (Fall 2008)
PSC 712: Public Opinion and Communication (graduate)
Where does public opinion come from, and why does it matter? This course
entertains those questions, with an emphasis on the role played by the mass
media and political elites in shaping public attitudes toward government,
political issues, and political figures themselves. We will examine how to
conceptualize and measure public opinion, critique theories of opinion
formation, and discuss the various sources of political attitudes. In doing
so, we will focus on the influence of the news media, elite discourse,
campaign advertising, and other forms of communication in contributing to
the way citizens see the political world. We will also explore the
relationship between public opinion and policy making. The course will focus
primarily on American politics, but the reading list includes a smattering
of work comparative in nature.
PSC 313: Campaign Analysis
Election campaigns are, without a doubt, the premier events of
American politics. More than any political happening not named Monica
Lewinsky, elections simultaneously draw the concentrated attention of
candidates, journalists, interest groups, and citizens. And while many
regard campaigns as vapid spectacles—most memorable for things like George
W. Bush’s reference to “the internets” or Bill Clinton’s preference for
boxers, not briefs—elections are an indispensable part of a working
democracy. Beneath the hoopla, they are the mechanism by which citizens hold
their government accountable. When elected representatives perform poorly,
their constituents can boot them out of office. Alternatively, they can vote
to keep politicians who do well. In the words of one political scientist,
elections give the citizenry a chance to act as a “rational god of vengeance
and reward.” As a result, campaigns are central to understanding the
relationship between the government and the governed, and the operation of
American politics. In this class, we will take up
a number of questions about election campaigns. Among them: What is their
purpose in American democracy? Why do people decide to run for office, and
how do they organize, plan, and pay for their campaigns? Why do some
citizens vote, while others don’t, and how do voters decide whom to cast
ballots for? What kind of influence do news coverage and candidate
advertising have on voters? And at the end of the day, what effect do
contemporary political campaigns have on American democracy? In our quest
for answers, we will occasionally tap the wisdom of campaign professionals
and journalists, but will rely most heavily on political science research.
As such, this class will give you an introduction to the theory and practice
of campaigns, but it is not a “how-to” guide to becoming the next Karl Rove
or James Carville.
Syllabus (Fall 2007)