What would happen if local media provided information that elected representatives did not control that focused on political issues? This is the question that Stephanie Greco Larson asksand answersin "Creating Consent of the Governed. "Larson explores the role of the news media in contemporary American politics, specifically, the effect of the media on voters evaluations of elected representatives. Larson also asks whether the press or the public is responsible for society s present inattention to issues.

Larson s book is a case study of the way constituents reacted to local media...