ABSTRACT
This conclusion presents an overview of key concepts discussed in the preceding chapters of this book. The book explores that with today's constant stream of information from websites, blogs, twenty-four-hour news networks, and social networking sites, it is difficult to imagine the media landscape of even thirty-five years ago. The role of media in news exposure and learning has changed over the past century, and understanding these changes is imperative if we are to achieve democracys goal of an informed citizenry. In the earlier decades of broadcast television and radio, the role of media in educating individuals about news and politics was much simpler to plot. Few theories in communication are as provocative as the knowledge-gap hypothesis. At last count (January 18, 2014), the original exposition of the theory had been cited 1,251 times, according to Google Scholar. The knowledge-gap hypothesis provides a jumping-off point for Priors theory related to medias influence on political knowledge and voter turnout.
