The political-media complex at 50 - Putting the 1996 presidential campaign in context

Placing the 1996 presidential campaign in its broader historical and institutional context reveals changes taking place in the ''political-media complex.'' These changes include a shift in control of political communication away from mainstream news media in what might be described as a progressivist reformation; the inability of mainstream news media to resolve both their commercial needs and their professional needs, leading to a decline in their influence; and the,leed for both candidates and journalists to respond to public dissatisfaction with campaigns and campaign news coverage.