How does media influence the audience towards political participation?

Some scholars would actually argue that the media
influences audiences away from participation.  They would say that the media shows the
bad side of politicians to such a large degree that people become disgusted and are less
likely to want to participate.

If, however, you are
supposed to argue that the media encourages participation, you can say that it is
because the media lets people know about the problems that are going on in the country. 
This, for example, is what happened in the Progressive Era when the muckrakers had such
an important influence.  When people find out about these problems, they become
motivated to act.  They participate politically in an attempt to push the government to
solve the problems they see portrayed in the media.