"The media have a central role in modern politics in providing the information that individuals use to assess candidates and their platforms. Through selected coverage of poll information, political advertisements and political debates, and the coverage of political candidates, campaigns, and issues, media may influence public opinion." "The Psychology of Media and Politics discusses how this influence may occur andthe impact of this influence on an individual's political impressions knowledge, and decisions. The book brings together information from a variety of fields, including communication, psychology, political science and sociology including a discussion of recent political phenomena and the implications for media and politics in the 21st century."--Jacket.Abstract: Discusses why people discount their own opinions, how media shapes the news, when this drives political decision making, and what the effect is on the future of society. This book demonstrates theways in which the media both constrain and facilitate democratic participation. It discusses such issues as political advertising, polls, and debates.