C/P/23. Dissertation. CNN effect and media framing: Living room wars and lessons of 9/11

The dissertation considers inter-relationship between mass media and power-wielding elites. In particular, the paper looks at the importance of the "CNN effect", that is - the ability of the news companies to broadcast live pictures of events that could shock the public conscience and thereby prompt the policy-makers into action. Such ability is the result of breakthroughs (many of them very recent) in the field of reporting technologies. Another issue that is very much in focus in this paper is media framing, that is - the presentation of facts by reporters in such a way as to highlight desired aspects of a certain issue at the cost of doing prejudice to other aspects. Finally, the paper looks into the dynamic of the policy-media relations. We find that within a relatively free, democratic political system (such as that, which does not openly suppress freedom of expression and freedom of press), the relationship between media and policy is that of a mutual give-and-take. Elites are influenced by what mass media bring to the screen, but journalists themselves share the views of the policy elites. Under such circumstances, when elite circles are in consensus on a policy issue, it is unlikely to receive negative attention in the media. When, however, policy-making community is divided and policy is uncertain, media may take sides in the debate.