Understanding America’s Modern Political Polarization Through Media History

Political polarization in the United States has rapidly developed into a key source of division within the country’s electorate. Though the clashing of contentious political ideologies has historically served as the catalyst for beneficial political, social, and economic change in America, modern political discourse is threatening to propel the country towards regression. Academics, politicians, and commentators have accused the media of perpetuating division through incendiary rhetoric and biased reporting. This project seeks to evaluate the validity of such accusations through the analysis of America’s media history and its impact on the country’s electorate. Following an overview of media’s developmental timeline, the work leans heavily on the research of Markus Prior, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs at Princeton University. His findings provide crucial insight into the links between voter behavior and media broadcasting with the intention of understanding the rise of political polarization in America.