| Acknowledgements | 第1-7页 |
| 中文摘要 | 第7-8页 |
| Abstract | 第8-10页 |
| Contents | 第10-12页 |
| Chapter 1 Introduction | 第12-15页 |
| Chapter 2 Media Studies and the Role of Media in American Politics | 第15-27页 |
| ·The Theories of Media Studies | 第15-18页 |
| ·Political Economy Approach to the Analysis of the Media | 第15-16页 |
| ·Hall's Media Theories | 第16-18页 |
| ·The Mass Media in America | 第18-19页 |
| ·The Role of Mass Media in American Politics | 第19-24页 |
| ·Newspaper and Political Propaganda | 第20页 |
| ·Radio Broadcasting and Fireside Chats | 第20-21页 |
| ·The Importance of Televised Debates | 第21-23页 |
| ·Internet as the New Medium | 第23-24页 |
| ·The Distinction between the Traditional Media and the New Media | 第24-27页 |
| Chapter 3 The Studies on the Leading Function of Media in the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election | 第27-40页 |
| ·The Background of the Election | 第27-28页 |
| ·The News Coverage of Presidential Candidates on the Traditional Media | 第28-31页 |
| ·The New Media and the Social Network Phenomenon | 第31-37页 |
| ·The Decisive Role of New Media | 第31-33页 |
| ·Obama's Social Media Advantage | 第33-35页 |
| ·The Strategies of the Obama's Campaign Team | 第35-37页 |
| ·The Agenda-Setting Function of Media in American Presidential Election | 第37-40页 |
| Chapter 4 Media Functions Applied in American Politics | 第40-49页 |
| ·The Political Functions of Media in the Digital Age | 第40-44页 |
| ·The Interpretation of the Political News | 第40-41页 |
| ·The Role of Surveillance | 第41-42页 |
| ·Influencing Public Opinion | 第42-43页 |
| ·The Link between the Government and the People | 第43-44页 |
| ·The Technological and Economical Reasons | 第44-46页 |
| ·Media Conglomeration and the Quality of the News | 第46-49页 |
| Chapter 5 The Future Development of Media in the United States | 第49-55页 |
| ·The Increasing Influence of New Media and the Trend of Media Convergence | 第49-51页 |
| ·New Media Redefine How People Live Their Lives | 第49-50页 |
| ·The Trend of Media Convergence | 第50-51页 |
| ·Social Media and the Increase of Social Capital | 第51-53页 |
| ·The Application of Habermas's Theory of Public Sphere in Internet | 第53-55页 |
| Chapter 6 Conclusion | 第55-57页 |
| Bibliography | 第57-60页 |
| 附表 | 第60页 |
