Political Socialization &
The Role of the Media
• The media reinforces
values instilled by
other socialization
agents.
OR
• The media opposes
those value systems.
Current Youth Participation
• Voter turnout for
Americans ages 18-24
averages 17 percent
less than that of other
Americans.
• Is the future of the
democratic process is
at stake?
McLeod’s Theory (Jack
McCleod)
• OLD ASSUMPTION:
Political Ideas (from
parents, school,
media) to passive
recipients (youth)
• NEW ASSUMPTION:
Children are active
agents of their own
political development.
Political Socialization Agents
* Civic Curriculum in School
* Parental Influence
*Mass Media
*Youth
MYTH #1
“Children acquire civic orientations through
modeling and direct attitude inculcation.”
Faults: Assumes children will always adopt
their parents’ political opinions and fails to
account for significant media influence.
The Media Chain
• Youth exposure to
mass media leads to
political discussions.
• Political discussions
lead to increased
media consumption by
parents.
• Increased media
consumption leads to
political knowledge.
The Educator’s Role
• Civic curriculum leads
to interest in political
process.
• Interest leads to
increased news
consumption.
• Political knowledge
leads to participation
in democracy.
News Consumption by
Politically-Aware
Parents & Children
• Newspapers
• Television
• Internet (The Future)
Kaiser Family Foundation
Children’s Media Use Study
• One in four children 8
& older spends five
hours a day viewing
TV.
• These children spend
an average 40 hours
per week viewing TV.
• Sixty-five percent
have a TV in their
rooms.
“American Government for Children”
•
•
•
•
•
•
“American Citizenship”
“The History of American Gov’t”
“Federal, State & Local Gov’t”
“The History of the Presidency”
“The Three Branches of Gov’t”
“What is Government?”
• What does citizenship mean?
• What rights do citizens have?
• What responsibilities do citizens
have?
Potential Benefits
•
•
•
•
Effective Media
Informed Youth
Informed Adults
Increased Participation
• A Stronger
Democracy