The media is an essential part of a democratic society, providing citizens with the information they need to make informed decisions about leadership and policy. Recent studies have shown that increased media attention can raise public awareness, but it can also lead to confusion. The media can also pressure the government to act by highlighting the need for intervention or by demonstrating that citizens want change. The quality of media coverage is paramount for the media to fulfill its main purpose of informing the public.
It also acts as a gatekeeper that controls the actions of the government, setting the agenda for public discussion of issues and providing a forum for political expression. It facilitates community building by helping people find common causes, identifying civic groups, and working to find solutions to social problems. The emergence of new media in the United States has had a significant impact on political communication. The application of emerging digital communication technologies has made completely new media and content delivery systems possible, improving people's access to political information, facilitating broader political discourse, and encouraging participation.
However, new media has also introduced a greater level of instability and unpredictability in the process of political communication. Political divisions are reflected in the presence of “echo chambers” in the media, where people select their sources of news and information based on their affinity with the policies of other users. This often leads to hostile and ad hominem attacks. New media has also sought to directly involve the public in political activities, such as voting, contacting public officials, volunteering in their communities, and participating in protest movements. This has created new avenues of participation that allow the public to connect with the government and contribute to the flow of political information. In New York City, there is evidence to suggest that increased media coverage has had an influence on public policy decisions over time.
For example, when there was a dispute over tax legislation in the mid-1990s, it dominated coverage in the new media and made the front page of The New York Times. This demonstrates how powerful media coverage can be in influencing public policy decisions. In conclusion, it is clear that media coverage has had an impact on public policy decisions in New York City over time. The quality of media coverage is essential for it to fulfill its main purpose of informing the public and facilitating community building. New media has improved people's access to political information and encouraged participation, but it has also introduced a greater level of instability and unpredictability into political communication.
