Political Communication

Political communication studies the flow of information and influence among political actors, media, and citizens.

Scope

It covers political campaigns and propaganda, agenda-setting, framing and priming, media and public opinion, and political persuasion.

Core questions

• How do media shape political opinion?
• How do campaigns and propaganda work?
• How do framing and priming influence judgment?
• How does political information flow among actors and citizens?

Key concepts

• Propaganda
• Agenda-setting
• Framing and priming
• Public opinion
• Political persuasion
• Campaign effects

Key theories

Propaganda analysis

Lasswell pioneered the systematic study of political propaganda.

Agenda-setting

McCombs and Shaw showed the media set the public agenda of political issues.

Priming and framing

Iyengar and Kinder demonstrated how television news primes the criteria by which leaders are judged.

History

Political communication grew from propaganda analysis (Lasswell) through agenda-setting (McCombs & Shaw) and priming/framing experiments (Iyengar & Kinder), now centered on digital campaigns and misinformation.

Debates

How much do media change political opinion?

From minimal-effects to agenda-setting, priming, and framing effects.

Key figures

• Harold Lasswell
• Maxwell McCombs
• Shanto Iyengar
• Donald Kinder

Seminal works

• lasswell-1927
• mccombs-shaw-1972
• iyengar-kinder-1987

Frequently asked questions

What is priming in political communication?

The process by which media coverage shapes the criteria people use to evaluate political leaders and issues.