Final answer:
Shanto Iyengar and Donald Kinder's research underlines the impact of television news in shaping public perceptions and norms through agenda-setting and framing. The rise of digital news consumption has led to a decline in traditional media viewership, changing political communication and audience engagement. These shifts illustrate the power of media to shape societal views and the evolving landscape of news consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Shanto Iyengar and Donald Kinder's research, television news has significant effects on American views and opinions. Their work suggests that news media, specifically television, does not just report events but frames the issues in particular ways that shape public perception, a concept also known as agenda-setting. Iyengar's notion of framing extends to deliberation on how television news cultivates a viewer's perception of reality, influencing societal norms and expectations by controlling the subject matter presented to the public.
The increasing digital consumption of news has altered the way Americans interact with different forms of media. As more citizens, particularly younger ones, turn to smartphones and tablets for their news fix, the consumption of traditional news sources, such as print, radio, and television, has declined. This shift also impacts political dynamics, for instance, how the President communicates with the citizenry, with traditional avenues like the State of the Union address reaching fewer viewers over time.
These changes in media consumption and the influence of television news on public opinion demonstrate how critical it is for individuals to understand the media's role in shaping their understanding of the world. The shift to digital media not only reflects changing technological capabilities but also changing preferences in how individuals prefer to receive information, signaling a more crowded and competitive news landscape.