Abstract
In their classic paper, Lazarsfeld and Merton (1948) identified “status conferral” as one of the major functions of mass communications. The media enhance and legitimize the status of those to whom they call attention. This formulation, however, understates the reciprocal character of the process. In fact, there are two senses in which persons of status reciprocate: First, they affirm and enhance the status of the media that have access to them; secondly, and more fundamentally, the pronouncements and actions of persons of status are essential to the very practice of journalism. Implicit in the theory of Western journalism is the axiom that the talk and deeds of individuals—particularly those in office—are the basic force in social stability and change.
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Katz, E., Dayan, D. (1986). Contests, Conquests, Coronations: On Media Events and Their Heroes. In: Graumann, C.F., Moscovici, S. (eds) Changing Conceptions of Leadership. Springer Series in Social Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4876-7_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-4876-7_9
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