With Malice Toward All: The Media and Public Confidence in Democratic Institutions

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Public opinion polls point to a continuing decline in confidence in the Presidency, court system, Congress, the news media, state government, public education, and other key institutions. Moy and Pfau analyze the reasons for this crisis of confidence, with particular attention to the role of the media. Moy and Pfau examine the impact of sociodemographic factors, political expertise, and use of communication media on people's perceptions of confidence in democratic institutions. Their conclusions are based on two years of data collection. In three waves between 1995 and 1997, they conducted a series of content analyses of media depictions of democratic institutions in conjunction with general survey data. The result is one of the most comprehensive examinations ever conducted on the influence of the media on public confidence. It will be of great value to scholars, researchers, students, and professionals in government and the media.

Reviews

"Their elegantly designed study includes a multi-media approach, but is nevertheless quite readable. It is essential for scholars and public alike interested in a central issue of our time."-Montague Kern Associate Professor Department of Journalism and Mass Media Rutgers University
The book is a challenge, contribution, and companion to recent journalism scholarship...Moy and Pfau write and present data clearly; the book is well organized, with a complete appendix and bibliography. Highly recommended for serious collections in mass communication, mass media, political science, political communication, and journalism, where it will serve upper-division undergraduates through professionals.-Choice
The implications of this important book's findings for civic education in secondary schools and higher education likewise deserve significant and continuing discussion and debate.-Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
"The implications of this important book's findings for civic education in secondary schools and higher education likewise deserve significant and continuing discussion and debate."-Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly
"The book is a challenge, contribution, and companion to recent journalism scholarship...Moy and Pfau write and present data clearly; the book is well organized, with a complete appendix and bibliography. Highly recommended for serious collections in mass communication, mass media, political science, political communication, and journalism, where it will serve upper-division undergraduates through professionals."-Choice

Author Bio

PATRICIA MOY is Assistant Professor, School of Communications, University of Washington. Professor Moy has published numerous articles in journals dealing with communication and journalism issues. MICHAEL PFAU is Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin-Madison. Professor Pfau has published five earlier books and numerous journal articles dealing with the media and public perceptions.