New media’s influence on old school politics

It would be difficult to overstate the effects of this century’s proliferation of mass digital communication on the way people view, share and consume news. For years, readers have been forfeiting print journalism and instead, turning to social media to stay informed. But how is this influencing the democratic process? New media has increased the public’s access to political news, making it easier to track what is going on in Washington, but has that resulted in a more informed population?

On November 10, the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings hosted a forum on the impact of new media on the democratic process. A panel of experts discussed how the distinctive characteristics of new media can be utilized to create better policies and more effective governance and how the old media are still essential.

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