Interest Groups, the Media, and Policy Debate Formation: An Analysis of Message Structure, Rhetoric, and Source Cues

We propose an interactive model of public policy debate formation that highlights the dependent yet competitive relationship between the media and pressure groups in structuring policy messages and issue rhetoric. To test our model we examine the evolution of the abortion debate in the print media using measures of message format and related contextual cues to determine the effectiveness of the media versus interest group players in generating favorable issue messages and controlling policy rhetoric. We find that the media both report issue news and advocate unique policy messages, and that inter- and intrainterest group competition in structuring issue information is cyclical and often related more to journalistic norms than to actual pressure group strength.