How influential is the press in UK politics in 21st C Britain?

[sorenofthejnaii]

I honestly don't believe it's as influential as it believes. There are loads of ways of getting information now - and it's as accurate as you want it to be.

I keep hearing about Murdoch and Dacre. I don't think they are as influential on the public as they think. Maybe on the Government but in the real world?

I'm afraid you're wrong. There are still a lot of people who trust what their paper tells them and don't look elsewhere, or don't believe anything that contradicts their entrenched views.

Tell that to my relatives who unquestioningly believe everything the bloody Daily Fail prints.

I think the BBC is very influential, and all the main newspapers.

I also believe that the social media has far too much power/influence over certain sections of society who do not research the facts for themselves - anyone can post things on facebook/twitter without checking their facts and unfortunately there is sometimes an incidence of 'chinese whispers' where half-truths and downright un-truths pass unquestioning into the mindset of some.
This has been exemplified over the last few months since the referendum was announced - and is still going on.

I think it is far too influential and, personally, think there should be some restraints in terms of being impartial as there is on tv and radio. Reading around the subject may be second nature for some of us but some others read the same newspaper every day and think what is in it is the truth.
By coincidence, I read this earlier this morning which is interesting. I know it is extreme and I do agree the media is more polarised in the US

The 'serious' papers have much smaller circulation than the Sun and DM, and the BBC has to be seen to be 'balanced ' which can actually lead to the imbalance of having to air the opinions of one side despite there being an overwhelming consensus on the facts from the other side.