American democracy was founded on the belief that ultimate power rests in an informed citizenry. But that belief appears naive in an era when private corporations manipulate public policy and the individual citizen is dwarfed by agencies, special interest groups, and other organizations that
have a firm grasp on real political and economic power.
In Democracy and the News, one of America's most astute social critics explores the crucial link between a weakened news media and weakened democracy. Building on his 1979 classic media critique Deciding What's News, Herbert Gans shows how, with the advent of cable news networks, the internet,
and a proliferation of other sources, the role of contemporary journalists has shrunk, as the audience for news moves away from major print and electronic media to smaller and smaller outlets. Gans argues that journalism also suffers from assembly-line modes of production, with the major product
being publicity for the president and other top political officials, the very people citizens most distrust. In such an environment, investigative journalism--which could offer citizens the information they need to make intelligent critical choices on a range of difficult issues--cannot flourish.
But Gans offers incisive suggestions about what the news media can do to recapture its role in American society and what political and economic changes might move us closer to a true citizen's democracy.
Touching on questions of critical national importance, Democracy and the News sheds new light on the vital importance of a healthy news media for a healthy democracy.
American democracy was founded on the belief that ultimate power rests in an informed citizenry. But that belief appears naive in an era when private corporations manipulate public policy and the individual citizen is dwarfed by agencies, special interest groups, and other organizations that
have a firm grasp on real political and economic power.
In Democracy and the News, one of America's most astute social critics explores the crucial link between a weakened news media and weakened democracy. Building on his 1979 classic media critique Deciding What's News, Herbert Gans shows how, with the advent of cable news networks, the internet,
and a proliferation of other sources, the role of contemporary journalists has shrunk, as the audience for news moves away from major print and electronic media to smaller and smaller outlets. Gans argues that journalism also suffers from assembly-line modes of production, with the major product
being publicity for the president and other top political officials, the very people citizens most distrust. In such an environment, investigative journalism--which could offer citizens the information they need to make intelligent critical choices on a range of difficult issues--cannot flourish.
But Gans offers incisive suggestions about what the news media can do to recapture its role in American society and what political and economic changes might move us closer to a true citizen's democracy.
Touching on questions of critical national importance, Democracy and the News sheds new light on the vital importance of a healthy news media for a healthy democracy.
Herbert J. Gans is the Robert S. Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University and the author of many books, including Deciding What's News, Popular Culture and High Culture, The Urban Villagers, and The War Against the Poor.
"Gans radiates decency and common sense. Like Tocqueville, he also
brings something of the neutral tone of a foreign observer (he
arrived in his teens as a refugee), and he is refreshingly free of
partisan bias."--Ted Widmer, New York Times Book Review
"A sober, researched and valuable contribution to the current
discussion of the media."--Houston Chronicle
"The biggest surprise in Herbert Gans' new book isn't his blunt
diagnosis of what ails journalism or his fresh, often funky
suggestions for reform. The biggest surprise is his challenge to
basic assumptions about news and democracy.... Gans is most
provocative when challenging our articles of faith, particularly
the view that if the press just better informs citizens, then they
will become more involved in civic life and democracy will benefit.
Gans argues that
lack of power is more debilitating to citizens than lack of
information.... Gans' assessment of why audiences and journalists
seem estranged is perceptive and pertinent, and at least one of
his
conclusions seems indisputable: 'Journalists cannot function as
messengers,' he reasons, unless the recipients want and need
them.'"--American Journalism Review
"Gans draws on recent scholarship and statistical data to support
his recommendations, but this well-argued book remains accessible
to general readers. A useful purchase for both public and academic
libraries."--Library Journal
"This season's best book on the media"--Ellen Hetzel,
Poynteronline
"Gans radiates decency and common sense. Like Tocqueville, he also
brings something of the neutral tone of a foreign observer (he
arrived in his teens as a refugee), and he is refreshingly free of
partisan bias."--Ted Widmer, New York Times Book Review
"The biggest surprise in Herbert Gans' new book isn't his blunt
diagnosis of what ails journalism or his fresh, often funky
suggestions for reform. The biggest surprise is his challenge to
basic assumptions about news and democracy.... Gans is most
provocative when challenging our articles of faith, particularly
the view that if the press just better informs citizens, then they
will become more involved in civic life and democracy will benefit.
Gans argues that
lack of power is more debilitating to citizens than lack of
information.... Gans' assessment of why audiences and journalists
seem estranged is perceptive and pertinent, and at least one of
his
conclusions seems indisputable: 'Journalists cannot function as
messengers,' he reasons, unless the recipients want and need
them.'"--American Journalism Review
"A sober, researched and valuable contribution to the current
discussion of the media."--Houston Chronicle
"No book on news and government offers more good sense in more
compact fashion. Anyone tired of bombast about 'liberal bias'--or
for that matter, about a nation mired in conservatism by the
opposite bias--should consult Gans' well-organized state-of-the-art
compendium of evidence and argument. Democracy and the News is
crisp, seasoned, clarifying, realistic, and impressively hopeful.
It will settle a lot of arguments."--Todd Gitlin
"Herbert Gans has written a wise and lucid book that draws on his
profound and nuanced understanding of the media, and his deep
commitment to democratic ideals. Most admirably, Gans not only
gives us a crisp catalog of the impediments to a media that serves
democracy, but actually dares to consider steps toward overcoming
them."--Frances Fox Piven
"Gans radiates decency and common sense. Like Tocqueville, he also brings something of the neutral tone of a foreign observer (he arrived in his teens as a refugee), and he is refreshingly free of partisan bias."--Ted Widmer, New York Times Book Review "A sober, researched and valuable contribution to the current discussion of the media."--Houston Chronicle "The biggest surprise in Herbert Gans' new book isn't his blunt diagnosis of what ails journalism or his fresh, often funky suggestions for reform. The biggest surprise is his challenge to basic assumptions about news and democracy.... Gans is most provocative when challenging our articles of faith, particularly the view that if the press just better informs citizens, then they will become more involved in civic life and democracy will benefit. Gans argues that lack of power is more debilitating to citizens than lack of information.... Gans' assessment of why audiences and journalists seem estranged is perceptive and pertinent, and at least one of his conclusions seems indisputable: 'Journalists cannot function as messengers,' he reasons, unless the recipients want and need them.'"--American Journalism Review "Gans draws on recent scholarship and statistical data to support his recommendations, but this well-argued book remains accessible to general readers. A useful purchase for both public and academic libraries."--Library Journal "This season's best book on the media"--Ellen Hetzel, Poynteronline "Gans radiates decency and common sense. Like Tocqueville, he also brings something of the neutral tone of a foreign observer (he arrived in his teens as a refugee), and he is refreshingly free of partisan bias."--Ted Widmer, New York Times Book Review "The biggest surprise in Herbert Gans' new book isn't his blunt diagnosis of what ails journalism or his fresh, often funky suggestions for reform. The biggest surprise is his challenge to basic assumptions about news and democracy.... Gans is most provocative when challenging our articles of faith, particularly the view that if the press just better informs citizens, then they will become more involved in civic life and democracy will benefit. Gans argues that lack of power is more debilitating to citizens than lack of information.... Gans' assessment of why audiences and journalists seem estranged is perceptive and pertinent, and at least one of his conclusions seems indisputable: 'Journalists cannot function as messengers,' he reasons, unless the recipients want and need them.'"--American Journalism Review "A sober, researched and valuable contribution to the current discussion of the media."--Houston Chronicle "No book on news and government offers more good sense in more compact fashion. Anyone tired of bombast about 'liberal bias'--or for that matter, about a nation mired in conservatism by the opposite bias--should consult Gans' well-organized state-of-the-art compendium of evidence and argument. Democracy and the News is crisp, seasoned, clarifying, realistic, and impressively hopeful. It will settle a lot of arguments."--Todd Gitlin "Herbert Gans has written a wise and lucid book that draws on his profound and nuanced understanding of the media, and his deep commitment to democratic ideals. Most admirably, Gans not only gives us a crisp catalog of the impediments to a media that serves democracy, but actually dares to consider steps toward overcoming them."--Frances Fox Piven
Journalism has plenty of failings, and while Columbia University sociology professor Gans is sure to point out many of them in this book, he also holds out hope for the profession's redemption. The esteemed social critic laments that disempowerment-both economic and political-has become "the normal state of the citizenry," with people thinking they have little control over much of anything these days. Journalism, says Gans, does little to help. Obsessed with profits and entertainment over the public-minded debate of issues, media outlets have sunk in Gans's esteem to where their reporters and anchors are seen as the moral equivalents of politicians and lawyers. Of course, these problems have been debated for decades; but Gans puts forward various suggestions for how both journalism and democracy in America may be improved, including increasing the diversity of newsrooms and strengthening the voice of citizen lobbies. It's a high-minded treatise and a welcome counterbalance to the constant cries of liberal bias in the media. It might be wishful thinking, though, to hope that Gans's prescriptions will have any effect on the behavior of today's media monoliths. (Mar.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
 |
Ask a Question About this Product More... |
|
