" ... A provocative analysis of the conservative media establishment, from talk radio to Fox News to the editorial page of The Wall Street Journal."--Inside jacket.

Americans in recent years have become thoroughly disenchanted with our political campaigns, especially with campaign advertising and speeches. Each year, as November approaches, we are bombarded with visceral appeals that bypass substance, that drape candidates in the American flag but tell us nothing about what they'll do if elected, that flood us with images of PT-109 or Willie Horton, while significant issues - such as Kennedy's Addison's Disease...

In Spiral of Cynicism, Joseph N. Cappella and Kathleen Hall Jamieson provide the first conclusive evidence that voter cynicism is indeed fueled by the manner in which the print and broadcast media cover political events and issues. The media's heavy focus on the game of politics, rather than on its substance, starts the spiral of cynicism that erodes citizen interest. By observing voters who watched and read different sets of reports for both a recent...

This program with Bill Moyers compares the everyday experiences of two New York City middle school students and contrasts political rhetoric with the reality of American schooling. A profile of the two students and their different schools points out the inequalities of our current system and how disproportionate funding affects the quality of education. The program also features advocates for educational reform, who debate what the Democratic and...