Comparing Media Systems: Three Models of Media and Politics

Communication, Society and Politics

by Daniel C. Hallin, Paolo Mancini

Building on a survey of media institutions in eighteen West European and North American democracies, Hallin and Mancini identify the principal dimensions of variation in media systems and the political variables which have shaped their evolution. They go on to identify three major models of media system development (the Polarized Pluralist, Democratic Corporatist and Liberal models) to explain why the media have played a different role in politics in each of these systems, and to explore the forces of change that are currently transforming them. It provides a key theoretical statement about the relation between media and political systems, a key statement about the methodology of comparative analysis in political communication and a clear overview of the variety of media institutions that have developed in the West, understood within their political and historical context.

Genres: Journalism, Academic, Grad School

349 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 12, 2004

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read it for an essay but ended up reading it basically cover to cover lol. Very dense and ultimately an academic text, but interesting if you’re into media systems in Europe (or if you have to write an essay on it)?

[Katrinka · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good, very general, introduction to media system of western Europe and North America.

[David Lorao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lectura universitaria obligatoria, pero un profundo y meticuloso estudio sobre la relación existente entre los medios de comunicación y la política.

[Lu Barcenilla Román · Rating 1 out of 5]

Le pongo una estrella y me quedo tan agusto

[Adrian Fanaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are three models of media, liberal, polarized pluralist or mediterranean, and democratic corporatist or central european. All of these models except maybe the liberal one have tight relationships between the political system and the media owners, the so called parallelism. The liberal model is more information oriented, but nevertheless it is owned by private magnates, so it cannot be very independent.

[Ladislav · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zaujímavý pohľad na fungovanie médií.