Functions of the Media The media has immense power within the
American democracy because just about all Americans get their
news from the media rather than from other people or other
sources. Media coverage shapes how Americans perceive the world
and what they consider to be important. Voters and politicians
alike must pay attention to the media. In the American political
system, the media perform a number of functions important to the
democratic process. The media reports the news, serves as an
intermediary between the government and the people, helps
determine which issues should be discussed, and keeps people
actively involved in society and politics. Reporting the News
Perhaps the most important role of the media in politics is to
report the news. As noted above, the vast majority of people
must trust the media to provide them with information. Democracy
requires that citizens be informed because they must be able to
make educated voting choices. Types of Reporting For much of
American history (until the