Research On Political Socialization Function Of U.S. Mass Media

The highly developed mass media is one of the main symbols of modern society. On the one hand, rapidly developing mass media brings hard-won opportunities for political socialization. On the other hand, it also makes political socialization face challenges in severe situations. The U.S. media industry is the most advanced in the world. Mass media has completely engaged in U.S. human life. The U.S. society utilizes mass media to ensure the construction, transmission and permeation of the social mainstream political culture. Furthermore, by utilizing this way, the U.S. society blends the social mainstream political culture in the values, behaviour patterns and life styles of citizens. The mass media has become an effective means to promote the U.S. political socialization. Therefore, whether to comprehend the U.S. mass media, or to recognize the U.S. political socialization, it is of theoretical and realistic significance to research the political socialization function of U.S. mass media.Firstly, the thesis summarizes the existing research results, overviews related basic theories about the political socialization functions that the mass media has, defines related concepts; the thesis analyses the connotation and characteristic of the political socialization functions that the mass media has in the perspective of exploring the political functions of mass media. Secondly, the thesis researches the U.S. mass media which is the chief channel of political socialization, mainly analyses the construction and characteristic of U.S. mass media, studies the position and operation mode of U.S. mass media in political socialization, at the same time, analyses the relations among the U.S. mass media and other political socialization channels. Thirdly, the thesis mainly analyses the positive and negative functions of U.S. mass media in political socialization. The U.S. mass media has positive functions, such as spreading political culture, leading political participation, stabilizing political system and outputting ideology; meanwhile, because of self limited features, the U.S. mass media has some negative functions to political socialization. The thesis analyses the factors of the negative functions. After that, the thesis studies the regulation and control of U.S. to the political socialization function of mass media, especially theoretical basis and influencing factor, then measures. Finally, the thesis summarizes our enlightenment of the political socialization function that U.S. mass media has, analyses the challenges our country faces in the course that the mass media functions political socialization, puts forward the measures to improve our political socialization of mass media.The thesis enhances theory content system of political socialization function that mass media has, expands views of U.S. political socialization research. It is not only beneficial to comprehending U.S. mass media, but also beneficial to realize U.S. political socialization. The research provides theoretical basis and countermeasures to our mass media political socialization. It is advantageous to mass media functions in ideological and political education. The thesis is of great positive significance to build a harmonious socialist society.