Elihu Katz published in The Communication Journal

Monday, November 23, 2009

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Elihu Katz, Ph.D., Distinguished Trustee Professor of Communication, recently published “Media-Government-Public: Coalitions and Oppositions” in the July 2009 issue (Volume 12, Issue 3, pgs. 199 - 204) of The Communication Journal.

Abstract
Triangles, famously, describe coalitions and oppositions. It may be useful to think of the news as a triangle of relations among M, G and P, that is, among Media, Government (or Establishment), and People. Thus, “routine news” is typically initiated by G, resulting in a coalition with M. “Investigative reporting” of accidents and scandals is initiated by M, and aims for a coalition with P in opposition to G. Similarly, a “revolutionary scenario” is initiated by P against G, seeking to enlist M. A “disaster” scenario introduces a subversive agent S, aiming to undermine the system, but tempting M into a hate-love relationship.