Information Source and Political Arena: How Actors from Inside and Outside Politics Use the Media

Abstract

Based on the distinction between the media’s role as an information source and a political arena, this chapter analyses how politicians and other political actors use the media during the political process. A quantitative survey of German Members of the Bundestag, civil servants, associations and NGOs, and researchers in energy policy was conducted in 2011 (N = 262; response rate = 35%). The results underline the significant importance of the media for political actors to receive information on citizens and other political actors, but also to communicate with other political actors and to influence policy-making. While the media’s information function is more important for political actors from outside the political-administrative system, the arena function is slightly more relevant for politicians.