Public Opinion

Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) was an American writer, reporter and political commentator whose career spanned decades and produced some of the most important journalism in American history. He was the first to introduce the concept of the Cold War with his 1947 novel of that name, received myriad awards-including two Pulitzer Prizes (1958, 1962)-and wrote nearly ten thousand articles and columns, earning him the title of the Great Elucidator. The 1922 book Public Opinion is Lippmann's assessment of functional democratic government and the role of citizens in a democracy; it examines the dilemmas presented in such a revolutionary period of history and places doubts on people's ability to govern themselves. He emphasizes the media's function in shaping public perceptions and warns against the power of propaganda. Lippmann's exploration and endorsement of modern democracy have made his body of work a staple in the field of political science.