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Public Affairs Television and the Growth of Political Malaise: The Case of “The Selling of the Pentagonâ€

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  • Robinson, Michael J.

Abstract

Television journalism can produce significant changes in opinions about basic American institutions and may also foster political malaise. Laboratory investigation revealed that the CBS documentary, “The Selling of the Pentagon,†convinced viewers that the military participated more in national politics and misled the public more about Vietnam than these viewers had previously believed. The program also caused a significant decrease in political efficacy among all our groups. This finding led to correlational research to determine if exposure to television news is also associated with lower levels of efficacy.SRC survey data suggest that reliance upon television news programs is associated with feelings of inefficacy and political self-doubt. These data also indicate that reliance upon television news fosters political cynicism and distrust, political instability, and frustration with civil rights. Holding constant the level of education or income of these respondents does not appreciably alter these relationships.In short, the two sets of data imply that the networks helped to create Scammon's Social Issue and that video journalism fostered public support for George Wallace.

Suggested Citation

  • Robinson, Michael J., 1976. "Public Affairs Television and the Growth of Political Malaise: The Case of “The Selling of the Pentagon†," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 70(2), pages 409-432, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:70:y:1976:i:02:p:409-432_17
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    1. Yusong Liu & Linyi Zheng & Wenrong Qian, 2023. "How Rural Residents Access News and Its Influence on Social Trust: Based on the Data of the China Family Panel Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-20, February.
    2. Cheikh Tidiane Ndiaye & Armand Akomavo Dagoudo & Babacar Mbengue, 2021. "Growth and Income Distribution Inequalities in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Dynamic Model Approach [Croissance et inégalités de distribution des revenus en Afrique subsaharienne : une approche par les mod," Working Papers hal-03202484, HAL.
    3. S. Mo Jang & Yong Jin Park, 2013. "The Citizen as Issue Specialists in a Changing Media Environment," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Byoung Joon Kim & Seoyong Kim & Youngcheoul Kang & Sohee Kim, 2022. "Searching for the New Behavioral Model in Energy Transition Age: Analyzing the Forward and Reverse Causal Relationships between Belief, Attitude, and Behavior in Nuclear Policy across Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-24, June.
    5. Alejandro Martínez & Juan Carlos Henao & Mario A. Pinzón Camargo, 2021. "Disrupción tecnológica, transformación digital y sociedad. Tomo I, ¿Cuarta revolución industrial? : contribuciones tecnosociales para la transformación social," Books, Universidad Externado de Colombia, Facultad de Derecho, number 1280, October.
    6. Amber Mubeen & Noshina Saleem & Faiza Latif, 2019. "Relationship between Consumption of TV Political Programs and Media Malaise in Shaping Political Efficacy among Students," Global Political Review, Humanity Only, vol. 4(4), pages 11-18, December.
    7. Kern, Holger & Hainmueller, Jens, 2007. "Opium for the Masses: How Foreign Free Media Can Stabilize Authoritarian Regimes," MPRA Paper 2702, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    8. Cristian BRANCU & Oana TURCU, 2023. "The Role of Media Consumption in Building Trust in the Romanian Mass Media," REVISTA DE MANAGEMENT COMPARAT INTERNATIONAL/REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT, Faculty of Management, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania, vol. 24(2), pages 293-300, May.
    9. Cristian Vaccari & Augusto Valeriani, 2018. "Digital Political Talk and Political Participation: Comparing Established and Third Wave Democracies," SAGE Open, , vol. 8(2), pages 21582440187, June.
    10. Mijeong Baek, 2009. "A Comparative Analysis of Political Communication Systems and Voter Turnout," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 53(2), pages 376-393, April.
    11. Yuxiang Hong & Taesam Lee & Jong-Suk Kim, 2019. "Serial Multiple Mediation Analyses: How to Enhance Individual Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response to Environmental Disasters," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    12. Andrea Ceron & Vincenzo Memoli, 2016. "Flames and Debates: Do Social Media Affect Satisfaction with Democracy?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 126(1), pages 225-240, March.

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