Why Democracies Need an Unlovable PressISBN: 978-0-7456-4453-0
Paperback
184 pages
November 2008, Polity
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Financial Times
"Schudson brings to his analysis an equanimity often missing
among media critics. Uniquely among scholars of contemporary media,
he is well steeped in American history and the history of ideas.
Schudson's key argument in his eloquent new book is that it is the
everyday reporting by the press, often pedestrian, often of trivial
occurrences, that holds the powerful to account and limits their
power to control what the public knows."
Australian Book Review
"There's been a publishing boom in recent years in volumes
pursuing the special relationship between media and democracy. Many
hit the mark, but few hit it so convincingly and enjoyably, and in
so few pages, as Schudson's."
Australian Journal of Political Science
"Schudson is the best writer on journalism I know."
John Lloyd, The Herald's Books of the Year
"In this sharp and engaging little book ... Michael Schudson has
launched a debate that can lead to a normative theory of
journalism's purpose in the era of the internet."
Tim Luckhurst, Times Higher Education
"A considered, fresh argument that points out often-overlooked
contributions to democracy made by the unlovable press."
M/C Reviews
"Schudson does an excellent job of pointing out that the press
needs to be free to adequately provide the people with information
that they need to form judgments about the government."
Books On-Line
"Makes a strong case for an independent press in a democracy,
particularly the US."
Long Range Planning
"Among contemporary American scholars working on media and
politics, Michael Schudson is easily the wisest. This wonderful
book shows why. Its case for thinking differently about journalism
and democracy is compelling. There are pearls galore: wise remarks
on subjects like the abuse of power, the functional necessity of
truth, the decline of the newspaper, the rise of expertise, and the
growing importance to democracy of efforts to monitor power
publicly."
John Keane, Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of
Westminster
"There are many reasons the press is unlovable, and
irresponsible. Readers will find these enumerated in Michael
Schudson’s important book. But readers will also find an
eloquent argument about the vital role an independent press plays
in a democracy, and why an 'annoying' journalist can advance the
public interest just as surely as a President."
Ken Auletta, author and New Yorker media writer
"A sparkling set of essays on journalism and democracy by one of
the world’s foremost media scholars. It alternates between
defending the commonplace and attacking the holiest of sacred cows,
making you want to rush to the next page of this brilliant, elegant
and learned book."
James Curran, Goldsmiths, University of London