Politics and the MediaIt is reasonable to expect the media to gather the facts and report the news fairly, accurately and responsibly. The American public relies on the media for much of its information. “The role of the press in American politics has become a major source of discussion and controversy in recent years” (Davis, 1). The question raised in this article is, “Does the media present the news fairly, accurately, and completely?” The short answer is no, the long answer will be explored in the following essay. This essay will examine the media, its influence and its effects on politics and government. “Publick Occurrences” was the first newspaper to appear in colonial America. This publication begins the history of media and its effects on politics and government in America. The newspaper was canceled soon after publication and its editors were arrested. Without the protection of the First Amendment, newspapers had little chance of surviving; especially if they were critical of established authority. The first successfully published American newspaper came nearly fifteen years later, in 1704. It was titled the "Boston News-Letter." Many more newspapers came into circulation in colonial America, and just before the Revolution, twenty-four newspapers were in circulation. Articles in colonial newspapers were a major source of political pressure in shifting public opinion from reconciliation with England to complete political independence. Thus began the story of the media's influence in America and its effects on American government and politics. The number of newspapers printed in America continued to grow, and by the end of the Revolution there were approximately forty-three newspapers available to the public. They played an important role, informing the public, in the political affairs of the young nation. In 1791 the Bill of Rights was approved which guaranteed freedom of the press. Protected by the First Amendment, American newspapers served an important and influential function in local and national politics. Newspapers were originally a luxury enjoyed only by the wealthy and the literate minority. It was during the era of Jacksonian democracy, around 1830, that newspapers became more widespread. This is a result of the invention of the "Penny Press". It was now possible to sell newspapers for a penny a copy... half the paper... the facts and report the news fairly, accurately and responsibly. It concludes by stating that, although the media reports the news, it is not always correct and accurate. Yellow journalism, the Nixon-Kennedy debates, and advocacy (broadcast) journalism demonstrate the influence the media has on government and public opinion. In a democracy, any attempt to regulate the influence of the media will conflict with constitutional protections of the First Amendment. The antidote to overly influential media is an educated public. Works Cited Coulter, Ann. "Ann Coulter on liberal biases in the media." Interview with Katie Couric. Today. NBC. WNBC, New York. June 26, 1994.Davis, Richard. The press and American politics. New York: Longman, 1992. Graber, Doris A. Media Power in Politics. Washington DC: Congressional Quarterly Inc., 1990.Goldberg, Bernard. Prejudice. Washington DC: Regnery Publishing Inc., 2002 Kelly, Michael. “The Myth of Media Fairness.” New York Post December 21, 2002: 17.Streitmatter, Rodger. More powerful than the Sword. Colorado: Westview Press, 1997. White, Theodore H. The Making of the President 1960. New York: Antheneum Publishers, 1961.