Citation

Park RE. Am. J. Sociol. 1941; 47(1): 1-11.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1941, University of Chicago Press)

DOI

10.1086/218818

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The relation of the news to public opinion and the power of the press is considered with reference to its function in the "political process." News columns are read more widely than the editorial pages. Generally speaking, the editorial is addressed to an intellectual and political elite. Its function is not to inform the public but to interpret the news in accordance with some political policy. Its function is to insure consistent political action. The function of the news is to orient the public in regard to events which affect not only public policy but the interests of individual readers. At times when party discipline is maintained the editorial is likely to be successful in directing political action. At times when party discipline is relaxed it is the news rather than the editorial that makes opinion. However, there can be no public opinion, except where there is some fundamental agreement and understanding as to what events, as they happen, are likely to mean, and events have meaning only as one knows what to do about them.