Since its beginning, about five decades ago, the massmedia have been intertwined with political processes of every type, ranging from coverage of majorpolitical events and institutions, to effects on campaigns and elections. This article reviews existing theories of media – politic relation, in particular, how the media influence the politi- cal climate and the democratic process in modern democracies. We will explore the power of the media over the political process and argue that the media create the rules and set the agendas for coverage of politics. The paper also examines the role of the media for the public: the media are central for the public – people have come to treat television, radio, newspapers, magazines and Internet as the basis on which to think and act in the world.