Understanding the role of media in the interaction between Governments and citizens gives us a clear basis to judge how the political institutes value the commons, the people and the environment.  It is clear we are at a time where information is "shaped by political marketing and special interest".  On many fronts I maintain  that we are at a critical point that we can still influence direction.
Inequality  is documented globally at extremes and transfers directly to legislative and judicial power.  Nationalism distracts from laws and deregulation that overwhelmingly value corporations, financiers and the minority of stockholders that hold large majorities of stock.  Deregulation of coal is an example with an EPA study that acknowledges that new "rules" could result in as many as fourteen hundred deaths annually. 
 
Castells, in his investigation of the public sphere, gives us a needed perspective of something that informs our every day.
Understanding our communication with our government should give us ways to make it responsible.