Seminar, three hours. Consideration of determinants of media content and degree to which Americans' political opinions and actions are influenced by that content. Specific topics include history of news media, recent media trends, theories of attitude formation and change, media bias, role of sources in construction of news, economics of news production and consumption, ways in which media shape public perceptions of political world, campaign communication, and general role of mass media in democratic process. S/U or letter grading.