Maxwell Mccombs, Amy Reynolds

Contents: Preface. Part I: The National Issues Convention.J.S. Fishkin, R.C. Luskin, Bringing Deliberation to the Democratic Dialogue. T.W. Smith, The Delegates' Experience. R. Hart, S. Jarvis, We the People: The Contours of Lay Political Discourse. Part II: The News Media.D.R. Boldt, Through the Eyes of a True Believer. D.B. Merritt, A (Largely Missed) Learning Opportunity. A. Reynolds, Local Television Coverage of the NIC. D.S. Evatt, Prologue to Diverging Patterns of Election Year Coverage. K.A. Rasinski, N.M. Bradburn, D. Lauen, Effects of NIC Media Coverage Among the Public. Part III: The Larger Setting.R.P. Daves, Deliberative Polling--Fitting the Tool to the Job. S. Herbst, The Cultivation of Conversation. M. McCombs, A. Reynolds, Enhancing Grassroots Democracy. Appendices: Interviewer-Administered Questionnaire Self-Administered Questionnaire: National Opinion Research Center. The National Issues Convention Schedule.

An analysis of the 1996 National Issues Convention, from logistics of execution to the role of news media. Examines the significance the event has in the context of civic discourse & public debate. For scholars & researchers in poli comm & poli sci.