The Public and the Politics in a Mediated Democracy. Some Comments on the Role of the Media in the Public Sphere
2006
Abstract
The article describes the role of the media as a mediator between the public and the decision-making spheres. While drawing on Habermas' concept of the structural transformation of the public sphere and his criticism, the article attempts to summarise the role of the media in the process of representing reality, forming and shaping public opinion, and influencing the public sphere in an environment of commercialised and globalised media content.