The `Event as Event' and the `Event as News': The Significance of `Consonance' for Media Effects Research

Abstract
In 1970 Halloran, Elliott and Murdock published Demonstrations and Communications which, due to its methodological design, represents a pioneering study in modern mass communication research. The authors were able to demonstrate similarity among the various media's reporting of an anti-Vietnam demonstration in London and that the actual `event as event' was completely different in nature from the `event as news'. Recent studies show that when reporting is consonant the mass media have a considerable influence on society. The media have particular influence over the subjects discussed in a society, the aspects of and criteria on a topic which are considered important and the climate of opinion which the population perceives as prevailing on a given subject.

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