NEWS MEDIA, POLITICAL-SOCIALIZATION AND POPULAR CITIZENSHIP - TOWARDSA NEW AGENDA

The use of news media has steadily declined in recent years, particula rly among young people. This article offers a critical review of recen t research and debate which has sought to explain the changing role of new journalism in political socialization, contrasting social-psychol ogical perspectives with those of cultural studies and critical theory . It evaluates calls for popular alternatives to conventional forms of news, and for an expanded or postmodern conception of citizenship and the public sphere. The article concludes that while there is a need t o rethink fundamental assumptions in this way, more ''traditional'' co ncerns with access, representation and political education are of cont inuing relevance.