FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2002 CONTACT Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE PROF ANALYZES THE IMPACT OF TELEVISION AND THE INTERNET ON POLITICS IN THE UNITED STATES In a new book titled "Prime Time Politics," Drake University professor Arthur Sanders explores how television has changed politics and government, mostly for the worse. He also analyzes how the Internet differs from television and the potential it has to alter our political landscape for better or worse. Sanders, who teaches political science, bases his book on the simple logic that television needs an audience to be successful. He contends that this simple logic has had a profound impact on the political world over the last 55 years. The balance of power between the president and Congress has shifted in favor of the president as he has become the star of a national political drama, Sanders writes. "The presidency is a much better story than Congress, so we see more of it, and this increased attention raises both public and media expectations about the president and what he can (or should) accomplish, and it provides a tool that presidents can exploit to try to build public approval and support, as well as to frame and control the political agenda." Yet while the office of the presidency may be stronger, television tends to show the presidency in a way that weakens the particular occupants of the office, Sanders observes. "The television era may have strengthened the presidency, but it seems to have left us with weaker presidents." Congress, on the other hand, doesn't make good television, but the television coverage that it does garner tends to help individual members of Congress maintain a strong, independent electoral base. "And this, in turn, makes it harder for Congress to function and harder for presidents to work with Congress," Sanders concludes. "And thus, the growth and development of television makes governing more difficult." Television speeds up the policy process and creates incentives for policy makers to take action, Sanders notes. It also promotes symbolic responses and a focus on simple solutions. Television coverage of elections is driven by what makes good television, not by what makes good elections. "Television changes the way we think about the election," Sanders writes. "It changes the incentives for candidates when they want to run and to win. It changes the factors that voters consider. Parties and conventions matter less. Debates, individual candidates, and money matter more. And advertising campaigns become central. Candidates are sold in 30-second spots just like any other product. "Finally, as a result of all of this, television changes the importance that citizens attribute to the process itself. The decline in voter turnout reflects an increasingly skeptical view of the usefulness of elections. It is an irony of the process that televisions imperatives lead to the showing of an election in ways that seem as if it will be more attractive to the audience, but that in making the election more 'attractive' or 'interesting,' television makes the election seem less substantial and less important." Not all of the effects of television are negative, Sanders says. It has enhanced the political world by making more information available for more people than ever before. While television is still the dominant information source about politics, the Internet is becoming an important force as well, but it's too soon to tell whether the impact will be primarily positive or negative. "The Internet exacerbates some problems but helps solve others," Sanders says. "On my optimistic days, I see the great potential of the Internet to provide rapid and expansive information that's not bound by the time and place of TV. There's a great opportunity for people to be more informed and more actively involved in the political world. "On my pessimistic days, however, I see that patterns of usage indicate that it's easier for people to avoid politics and the political world while surfing the Web. TV reaches a passive audience. Those who tune in to the news for the weather forecast also get political news. But those who use the Web to find weather information aren't receiving political news as well." "If citizens can seize the opportunities presented by the Internet and encourage the development and use of these technologies in ways that encourage stronger more complete connections between citizens and our political system, then our system may be able to counter some of the worst excesses of the era of television politics and to move down the road to a healthier democracy," Sanders concludes. "However, if we do not do so, if our political communications continues to be structured by patterns that discourage citizens from involvement and encourages dysfunctional behavior by our elected officials – then our democracy may deteriorate in ways that are even more damaging and harder to counter. In the end, the choice is ours." Sanders' research interests are American politics, public opinion, elections and mass media. His previous books are titled "Making Sense of Politics" and "Victory: How a Progressive Democratic Party Can Win and Govern." "Prime Time Politics" is available through Amazon.com and can be ordered directly from the publisher: College Publishing/Port City Fulfillment Services, 35 Ash Drive, Kimball, MI 48074. College Publishing can also be reached by phone at (810) -388-9500 and by e-mail at fulfillment@portcity.com. Note: For a review copy of "Prime Time Politics," contact Lisa Lacher at (515) 271-3119 or lisa.lacher@drake.edu