148 CHAPTER 5|PUBLIC OPINION AND THE MEDIA
The Internet also provides access to a wealth of analytic information. During
the 2011 debate over reducing the federal defi cit, many websites—including that of
the Congressional Budget Offi ce—off ered detailed analyses of how people would
be aff ected by diff erent budget-cutting plans. Prior to the Internet, analyses like
these circulated only among a few scholars and policy makers. Similarly, the pro-
liferation of videos on the Internet allows average Americans to see politics at fi rst
hand, ranging from online videos of Occupy Wall Street protests to just about any
other political event of signifi cance.A RANGE OF ONLINE SOURCES
Most American newspapers, television networks, radio stations, and cable
stations offer free access to most or all of their daily news via Internet sites.
Most also provide some web-only information and post blogs written by their
reporters. One highly inf luential conservative weekly magazine, National
Review, has a web version, National Review Online, where many of the maga-
zine’s reporters publish web-exclusive stories.^70 Also, most major newspapers
use Twitter feeds to announce new articles or photos, especially about time-
critical events.
Other Internet-only news providers, such as Politico’s Playbook, offer links
to daily political coverage throughout the nation or a preview of upcoming
political events in Washington.^71 SCOTUSblog (Supreme Court of the United
States blog) analyzes Supreme Court decisions, judicial nominations, and other
legal questions.^72 And many blogs such as The Monkey Cage discuss political
science research to explain contemporary American politics.^73 Finally, a wealth
of professional and amateur video coverage of politics is available on YouTube
and many other websites. Various political organizations and candidates use
Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites to recruit and organize
supporters.THE RISE OF DIGITAL MEDIA HAS
transformed the media industry,
as an increasing number of
Americans get news and other
information online. How does this
change affect the media’s role in
politics?