Source of Information of media into new media
Abstract: The relative contribution of several sources of information in providing information and news about the political affairs of New Brunswick to "active" political party members is explored. As well, differences between the two major linguistic groups (French and English) of New Brunswick in their usage of news media to obtain political information are illustrated.
Résumé: Nous faisons une reconnaissance de la contribution respective de différentes sources d'information utilisées par des adhérents "actifs" de partis politiques pour obtenir de l'information et des nouvelles à propos des affairs politiques du Nouveau Brunswick. Aussi, différences entre les deux groupes linguistiques (francophone et anglophone) de la province dans le processus de se procurer cette information sont illustrées.
The current fashion, in many journalistic analyses of the provincial political scene in Canada, attributes a significant, if not a determining, role to the news media in shaping the political conduct of the average citizen. Certainly, the news media occupy a significant position in the communication-opinion process by virtue of the fact that they provide much of the raw material from which Canadians create their political images and construct their political behaviour. This phenomenon involves an interaction between the source (news media) and the receiver (Canadian citizens). That is, exposure to various news media must occur for these sources of information and news to have a significant impact on the political process. The purpose of this paper is to identify the news media used by "active" political party members, in New Brunswick, to obtain information and news about the political affairs of New Brunswick. As well, we examine whether the members of the two major linguistic groups of New Brunswick (French and English) differ in their use of various news media to obtain political information and news.
Résumé: Nous faisons une reconnaissance de la contribution respective de différentes sources d'information utilisées par des adhérents "actifs" de partis politiques pour obtenir de l'information et des nouvelles à propos des affairs politiques du Nouveau Brunswick. Aussi, différences entre les deux groupes linguistiques (francophone et anglophone) de la province dans le processus de se procurer cette information sont illustrées.
The current fashion, in many journalistic analyses of the provincial political scene in Canada, attributes a significant, if not a determining, role to the news media in shaping the political conduct of the average citizen. Certainly, the news media occupy a significant position in the communication-opinion process by virtue of the fact that they provide much of the raw material from which Canadians create their political images and construct their political behaviour. This phenomenon involves an interaction between the source (news media) and the receiver (Canadian citizens). That is, exposure to various news media must occur for these sources of information and news to have a significant impact on the political process. The purpose of this paper is to identify the news media used by "active" political party members, in New Brunswick, to obtain information and news about the political affairs of New Brunswick. As well, we examine whether the members of the two major linguistic groups of New Brunswick (French and English) differ in their use of various news media to obtain political information and news.
As you can see in the picture new media is active worldwide. It helps many people to lessen their work. And it is also gives us information about what is happening to the other country or even here in our own country, like what is happening to the Political world. We can gathered more and more information in new media..
MEDIA USE AND POLITICAL INFORMATION
Blumler & McQuail (1968) in Television and Politics: Its Uses and Influences were among the first researchers to study the use of a mass medium as source of political information. Their findings indicated that, when both radio and television were available to British voters, television was preferred as a source of political information.
Nimmo (1970, p. 114), looking at the same issue, from an American perspective, said that studies "dating back to 1959 indicate that increasing proportions of Americans get most of their news from television rather than from radio, news papers or magazines."
In spite of strong arguments by Schwartz (1974) who indicated that radio provides the bulk of political news to voters, Nimmo (1978), when examining the political media, found that television was still the most widely-used source of political news. Likewise, when examining The Effects of Mass Communication on Political Behavior, Kraus & Davis (1978, p. 51) concluded that "a majority of those who do notice some political news in the printed media, nevertheless, feel that they learn more about what is going on politically from the spoken media [radio and television]."
Additionally, when reviewing The Royal Commission on Newspapers (1981), Siegel (1983) found that between 80% and 85% of Canadians indicated that electronic media was the most believable, influential, fair and unbiased media. As well, they felt that electronic media keep them up-to-date on information. He also suggested that although Canadians "continue to be ardent newspaper readers, their enthusiasm for the electronic media, especially television is tremendous" (Siegel, 1983, p. 244).
Siegel's (1983) findings are consistent with those of Rust, Baja, & Haley (1984) which showed television, followed by magazines and newspapers, were the media used most frequently by voters to obtain political information. Furthermore, Beaudry, & Schaffer (1986) observed that, as the "shakeout" among candidates occurs in a campaign, the news media play an increasingly important role. As well, Weaver (1987, p. 262) proposed that the "news media may be highly influential at this stage as candidates seek their support, and interaction between press and contender may help shape issues and images that voters eventually confront."
In summary, researchers have found variations among the media used to obtain political information. However, of the media studied, presently, "television has replaced newspapers as a source of news and political information" (McPhail & McPhail, 1990, p. 369). Whether the use of a medium to obtain information translates into an actual vote is another question. Television, especially television news, may simply be a convenient source of political information for voters. The convenience of television as a news medium may require the support of complementary media to actually influence the political perceptions and attitudes which result in voting patterns. Indeed, Rice & Atkin (1990, p. 270), when comparing television as a source of political information and news to newer technologies, indicated that television use will decrease in the future. They suggested that political campaigns will use a range of media including interactive cable systems, video-cassettes, video-conferencing, electronic mail, personalized direct mail and automated telephone dialing.
Nimmo (1970, p. 114), looking at the same issue, from an American perspective, said that studies "dating back to 1959 indicate that increasing proportions of Americans get most of their news from television rather than from radio, news papers or magazines."
In spite of strong arguments by Schwartz (1974) who indicated that radio provides the bulk of political news to voters, Nimmo (1978), when examining the political media, found that television was still the most widely-used source of political news. Likewise, when examining The Effects of Mass Communication on Political Behavior, Kraus & Davis (1978, p. 51) concluded that "a majority of those who do notice some political news in the printed media, nevertheless, feel that they learn more about what is going on politically from the spoken media [radio and television]."
Additionally, when reviewing The Royal Commission on Newspapers (1981), Siegel (1983) found that between 80% and 85% of Canadians indicated that electronic media was the most believable, influential, fair and unbiased media. As well, they felt that electronic media keep them up-to-date on information. He also suggested that although Canadians "continue to be ardent newspaper readers, their enthusiasm for the electronic media, especially television is tremendous" (Siegel, 1983, p. 244).
Siegel's (1983) findings are consistent with those of Rust, Baja, & Haley (1984) which showed television, followed by magazines and newspapers, were the media used most frequently by voters to obtain political information. Furthermore, Beaudry, & Schaffer (1986) observed that, as the "shakeout" among candidates occurs in a campaign, the news media play an increasingly important role. As well, Weaver (1987, p. 262) proposed that the "news media may be highly influential at this stage as candidates seek their support, and interaction between press and contender may help shape issues and images that voters eventually confront."
In summary, researchers have found variations among the media used to obtain political information. However, of the media studied, presently, "television has replaced newspapers as a source of news and political information" (McPhail & McPhail, 1990, p. 369). Whether the use of a medium to obtain information translates into an actual vote is another question. Television, especially television news, may simply be a convenient source of political information for voters. The convenience of television as a news medium may require the support of complementary media to actually influence the political perceptions and attitudes which result in voting patterns. Indeed, Rice & Atkin (1990, p. 270), when comparing television as a source of political information and news to newer technologies, indicated that television use will decrease in the future. They suggested that political campaigns will use a range of media including interactive cable systems, video-cassettes, video-conferencing, electronic mail, personalized direct mail and automated telephone dialing.
In this page, Television and radio is the mass medium of a sources of information, it influence British voters, they preferred to watch and hear to gathered information. For me also, i preferred watching t.v and listen to radio than reading. I've learn a lot if i watch and listen than read, because sometimes it is better to listen than to read.
REFERENCES
Beaudry, A., & Schaffer, B. (1986). Winning local and state campaigns: The guide to organizing your own campaign. New York: Free Press.
Blumler, J., & McQuail, D. (1968). Television in politics: Its uses and influences. London: Faber and Faber.
Grondin, D. (1988). Differences in the relative media preferences of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadian consumers. Canadian Journal of Communication, 13(3) 128-135.
Kraus, S., & Davis, D. (1976). The effects of mass communication on political behavior. London: Pennsylvania State University Press.
McPhail, T., & McPhail, B. (1990). Communication: The Canadian experience. Toronto: Copp Clark.
Meadow, R. (1990). Overview of political campaigns. In R. Rice and C. Atkin (Eds.), Public communication campaigns. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
Nimmo, D. (1970). The political persuaders: Techniques of modern electoral campaigns. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Royal Commission on Newspapers. (1981). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
Rust, R., Baja, M., & Haley, G. (1984, November). Efficient and inefficient media for campaign advertising. Journal of Advertising, 13, 45-49.
Siegel, A. (1984). Politics and the media in Canada. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Weaver, D. (1987). Media agenda setting and elections: Assumption and implications. In D. Paletz (Ed.), Political communication research: Approaches, studies and assessments. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
-Kaairyah L. Lopez
Beaudry, A., & Schaffer, B. (1986). Winning local and state campaigns: The guide to organizing your own campaign. New York: Free Press.
Blumler, J., & McQuail, D. (1968). Television in politics: Its uses and influences. London: Faber and Faber.
Grondin, D. (1988). Differences in the relative media preferences of English-speaking and French-speaking Canadian consumers. Canadian Journal of Communication, 13(3) 128-135.
Kraus, S., & Davis, D. (1976). The effects of mass communication on political behavior. London: Pennsylvania State University Press.
McPhail, T., & McPhail, B. (1990). Communication: The Canadian experience. Toronto: Copp Clark.
Meadow, R. (1990). Overview of political campaigns. In R. Rice and C. Atkin (Eds.), Public communication campaigns. Newbury Park: Sage Publications.
Nimmo, D. (1970). The political persuaders: Techniques of modern electoral campaigns. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Royal Commission on Newspapers. (1981). Ottawa: Queen's Printer.
Rust, R., Baja, M., & Haley, G. (1984, November). Efficient and inefficient media for campaign advertising. Journal of Advertising, 13, 45-49.
Siegel, A. (1984). Politics and the media in Canada. Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson.
Weaver, D. (1987). Media agenda setting and elections: Assumption and implications. In D. Paletz (Ed.), Political communication research: Approaches, studies and assessments. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.
-Kaairyah L. Lopez