Dissertation
How Politics Becomes News and News Becomes Politics
The relationship between the media and politics is close and often characterised by tensions. Politicians are often accused of being led by short-lived media cycles in their actions, thereby losing sight of broader societal interests. At the same time, the media are accused of primarily seeking out conflicts and sensational news which is detrimental to both politics and society.
- Author
- Luzia Helfer
- Date
- 28 November 2016
Political scientist Luzia Helfer (Leiden University) aims to provide an empirical test of these claims based on unique data from experimental studies with elected politicians and political journalists in Switzerland and the Netherlands. What media reports trigger politicians to take parliamentary action? And how and when do messages from political parties get picked up by journalists?