Media, Markets, and Democracy

by C. Edwin Baker

Overview

Giving people the media they want is thought to justify the move toward deregulation that has swept media policy circles. Freedom of the press is thought to require resistance to government interventions in the media realm. This book uses economic and democratic theory to undermine the premises of both beliefs. It also relies on these theories to evaluate journalistic practice, to recommend appropriate governmental policy toward the media, and to defend a preferred constitutional conception of press freedom. These issues should be vitally important to anyone interested in the proper practice of journalism, media policy, a free press, or democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521804356
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/19/2001
Series:	Communication, Society and Politics
Pages:	392
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.37(h) x 1.02(d)
Lexile:	1530L (what's this?)

Table of Contents

Preface; Part I. Serving Audiences: 1. Not toasters: the special nature of media products; 2. Public gods and monopolistic competition; 3. The problem of externalities; 4. The market as a measure of preference; 5. Where to? Policy responses; Part II. Serving Citizens: 6. Different democracies and their media; 7. Journalistic ideas; 8. Fears and responsive policies; 9. Constitutional implications; Part III. An Illustration: International Trade: 10. Trade and economics; 11: Trade, culture, and democracy; Conclusion; Postscript: the internet and digital technologies.

Editorial Reviews

"This is the kind of book that students should be encouraged to read and discuss as they take a media history course." American Journalism

"By combining insights from political science, economics, and law, Baker creates a highly useful road map for individuals interested in thinking about what government can or should do to improve the media's contribution to the operation of elections and government." Political Communication

"By combining insights from political science, economics, and law, Baker creates a highly useful road map for individuals interested in thinking about what government can or should do to improve the media's contribution to the operation of elections and government." - James T. Hamilton, The Political Communication

From the Publisher