ABSTRACT

Media and Democracy addresses key topics and themes in relation to democratic theory, media and technology, comparative media studies, media and history, and the evolution of media research. For example:

  • How does TV entertainment contribute to the democratic life of society?
  • Why are Americans less informed about politics and international affairs than Europeans?
  • How should new communications technology and globalisation change our understanding of the democratic role of the media?
  • What does the rise of international ezines reveal about the limits of the internet?
  • What is the future of journalism?
  • Does advertising influence the media?
  • Is American media independence from government a myth?
  • How have the media influenced the development of modern society?

Professor Curran’s response to these questions provides both a clear introduction to media research, written for university undergraduates studying in different countries, and an innovative analysis written by one of the field’s leading scholars.

chapter |6 pages

Introduction

part |2 pages

PART I Comparing media

part |2 pages

PART II Media and democratic theory

chapter |21 pages

Entertaining democracy

part |2 pages

PART III Media and new technology

chapter |12 pages

Technology foretold

chapter |10 pages

The future of journalism

part |2 pages

PART IV Media and history

part |2 pages

PART V Media and culture