Overview

Almost everyone reads the newspaper, browses the Internet, listens to the radio, or watches TV. Journalism has an indelible effect on our worldview - from the fight against global terrorism to the American presidential elections, celebrity scandal to the latest environmental coups. Hargreaves uses his unique position within the media to examine how we get this information and the many practical, political and professional decisions that the journalist has to make, as part of the process of delivering that information to us. Is journalism the 'first draft of history' or a dumbing-down of our culture and a glorification of the trivial and intrusive? In this intriguing book Ian Hargreaves argues that the core principles of 'freedom of the press' and the necessity of exposing the truth are as vital today as they ever were.

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9780192802743

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Hargreaves has written a timely and disturbing account of journalism in peril. --Martin Bell, The Times [London]

We have more news and more influential journalism, across an unprecedented range of media, than at any time in human history. But journalism is also under widespread attack from politicians, the general public and even from the journalists themselves. News that was once difficult and expensive to obtain now surrounds us. What once had to be sought out is now ubiquitous and largely free at the point of consumption. No longer constrained by the logistics of distributing printed copy, it is global, instantaneous and interactive. But there are problems with this new culture of constant news. There is so much that we find it hard to sort the good from the bad and because it requires no direct payment, we value it less. It is a commodity undifferentiated in source, and because it is instant, it can wreak destruction before there is time for it to be understood or even considered. Stories get the most prominence if the shots are visually exciting: violence is desirable, death a bonus. Less melodramatic but more important stories get less coverage. There are many signs that journalism is in trouble. Opinion polls show journalists are less trusted and esteemed than used to be the case: they are low in public opinion, alongside politicians but behind business and civil servants and way behind respected professionals such as doctors, teachers and scientists. Ian Hargreaves is Professor of Journalism at Cardiff University and was previously Director of News and Current Affairs at the BBC, and Editor of the Independent. In this topical book, he takes a broad look how we get our information and the practical, political and professional decisions that the journalist has to make in delivering it. He tries to make sense of what journalism is becoming and argues that the necessity of exposing the truth and the core principles of 'freedom of press' are as vital to society today as ever. (Kirkus UK)

Hargreaves has written a timely and disturbing account of journalism in peril. --Martin Bell, The Times [London]<br>

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