Because systems are coupled together, all behavior in society is dependent on each other. Government officials are dependent upon the media to relay policy information to the public. Similarly, the media rely on government officials to provide information their audiences want and need. Still, a certain amount of “stress” exists between government officials and the media. This presentation reports a study using systems theory and structural functionalism to analyze Tony Blair’s lecture on public life and the media. The study examined Blair’s criticism of the media which he claims has changed from objectively covering the news to blending of news and opinion into news commentary. Questions based on a systems framework were used to examine the “exchanges” and “transactions” between the political and media systems. In addition, questions centered on the theory of structural functionalism provided a framework to study the emerging functions of the media. Responses to the research questions revealed stresses between politicians and the media which heighten the mistrust between participants in the two systems. New media functions are proposed and recommendations suggest new rules for dealing with the press.