describe the role of agencies in the formation of public opinion
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Answer:
Public opinion is usually taken as the opinion of the public. In a democratic system public opinion occupies an important place as because public opinion is considered as the voice of the people. By public we do not mean an exact number of individuals or a fixed body of individuals. The word public stands for a section of society who share a common interest, holds similar views and opinion on the matters of public concern. As it is also not necessary that public opinion will be the opinion of all the people as it is also not the opinion of the majority. Public opinion necessarily reflects the diversity of opinion. By this we came to know that public opinion is not the opinion of the individual nor it is a private opinion that has a status symbol or a high standard of living. Further it also should be understood that it is not an opinion of the expert, irrespective of the wisdom of the expert. Public opinion is an organized and a considered opinion of a section or many sections of the people on any public issue and concern.
The formation of public opinion is not an automatic and a definite process rather it is a very complex process of formation. Like, the air cannot be seen but we can feel its presence in the same way public opinion cannot be seen but its effects can be felt. When an issue of public concern emerges the different sections of society express their different viewpoints. These viewpoints emerged through small debates, discussion, views of thinkers, writings of different writers on the present political happenings give either directly or indirectly a kick to the individuals to come across their own view or it may happen that the individuals may directly give a support to the writers view. The view on certain issues perhaps receives a greater attention that emerges as public opinion. There are both formal and informal processes for the formation of the public opinion.