Democracy Without Citizens: Media and the Decay of American Politics

by Robert M. Entman

Overview

In this analysis, Robert Entman identifies a "vicious circle of interdependence" as the key dilemma facing American journalism. He argues that the mass media cannot provide consistently high-quality, independent political journalism, because selling such a product -- which might create a sophisticated citizenry -- requires an audience that is already sophisticated. Entman offers observations on the real biases of the media, presidents' management of news "spin," and much more.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198022022
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	02/29/2000
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	909 KB

About the Author

About the Author:
Robert Entman teaches public policy studies and political science at Duke University and is co-author of Media Power Politics. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale.

Table of Contents

	Introduction	3
Part I.	Understanding Media Influence
1.	The Dilemma of Journalism: Democracy Without Citizens	17
2.	Objectivity, Bias, and Slant in the News	30
3.	Straight Talk on Slanted News: "Bias" and Accountability in Reporting Carter and Reagan	39
4.	How the Media Affect What People Think--and Think They Think	75
Part II.	Improving Journalism
5.	Newspaper Competition and Free Press Ideals: Does Monopoly Matter?	91
6.	Faith and Mystification in Broadcast Deregulation	102
7.	Improving Journalism by Enhancing Citizenship	125
Appendix A.	Citizenship and Opinions: Data and Statistical Analysis	141
Appendix B.	Public Opinion Impacts: Data and Statistical Analysis	144
Appendix C.	Newspaper Competition: Data and Statistical Analysis	158
	Notes	165
	Bibliography	205
	Index	223