ABSTRACT
Media coverage is a key source of information about Medicare that affects public opinion and, indirectly, Medicare policy. Based on the predominant method used for analyzing the content of media coverage, this chapter presents statistics describing coverage of the Medicare debates in 1995-1996 that can be used as a benchmark for patterns in future coverage. The analysis also provides evidence of how changes in one aspect of media coverage, criticism of newsmakers, correlate with shifts in public opinion concerning Medicare. The chapter examines the factors that explain variation in the level of criticism in coverage. It presents a brief summary of the political environment and proposals that were the focus of media coverage during the last major debate about Medicare reform. The chapter explains the importance of opinion toward political leaders and describes the shifts in opinion that are later linked with changes in media coverage.
