Media Debates Great Issues for the Digital

These renowned scholars present 19 issues specific to the interplay of media and society and debate them in this text. After a thoughtful introduction to the issue in that chapter, each author takes a pro or con position to debate the contested topic. Dennis and Merrill provide a context for students to think critically about key media topics and their impact on society by providing a balanced range of timeless and current issues in this unique format.

Preface

ix

About the Authors

xv

Introduction

1

(4)

Freedom of the Press

5

(15)

Challenge

Dennis: Press freedom is not a settled issue

6

(6)

Response

Merrill: Press freedom is mostly a settled issue

12

(8)

Media-Government Relationship

20

(14)

Challenge

Merrill: The media and government should not be adversaries

21

(5)

Response

Dennis: The media and government should be adversaries

26

(8)

Concentration of Media Ownership

34

(9)

Challenge

Dennis: The new concentration of media ownership ultimately benefits the public

35

(3)

Response

Merrill: Concentration of ownership is dangerous for people and society

38

(5)

Media and the Public Trust

43

(13)

Challenge

Merrill: The media exist mainly to make profits

44

(4)

Response

Dennis: The media must serve the public interest to maintain credibility and make profits

48

(8)

The Right to Know

56

(11)

Challenge

Dennis: There is no right to know

57

(5)

Response

Merrill: There is a right to know

62

(5)

Media Bias and Political Leanings

67

(9)

Challenge

Dennis: The news media are not biased

68

(3)

Response

Merrill: The news media are biased

71

(5)

Media and Elections

76

(8)

Challenge

Merrill: The media cover, but don't control elections

77

(2)

Response

Dennis: The media influence---and often control---elections

79

(5)

Public Opinion and the Polls

84

(8)

Challenge

Dennis: The media structure and shape public opinion through polls

85

(3)

Response

Merrill: Polls in the media mainly report on public sentiment

88

(4)

The Broadband Revolution

92

(8)

Challenge

Dennis: The broadband revolution blurs and corrupts media and media content

93

(3)

Response

Merrill: The broadband revolution advances individual communication and challenges media and media content to improve

96

(4)

The Internet and New Media

100

(8)

Challenge

Merrill: The Internet and new media are debasing journalism

101

(2)

Response

Dennis: The Internet and new media are strengthening journalism

103

(5)

Deciding What Is News

108

(11)

Challenge

Dennis: Market forces, not editors' judgments, should decide what is news

108

(5)

Response

Merrill: Editors' judgments, not market forces, should decide what is news

113

(6)

Journalistic Objectivity

119

(15)

Challenge

Merrill: Journalistic objectivity is not possible

120

(5)

Response

Dennis: Journalistic objectivity is possible

125

(9)

Civic/Public Journalism

134

(9)

Challenge

Merrill: Civic or public journalism is a healthy trend for the media

135

(3)

Response

Dennis: Civic or public journalism is an unhealthy trend for the media

138

(5)

Journalistic Ethics

143

(9)

Challenge

Merrill: Journalists are essentially unethical

144

(3)

Response

Dennis: Journalists are essentially ethical

147

(5)

Race and Ethnicity

152

(10)

Challenge

Dennis: Diversity needs rethinking and reassessment

153

(4)

Response

Merrill: Diversity does not need rethinking and reassessment

157

(5)

Advertising

162

(10)

Challenge

Merrill: Advertising is a negative social force

163

(3)

Response

Dennis: Advertising is a positive social force

166

(6)

Public Relations

172

(9)

Challenge

Dennis: Public relations manipulates the news

173

(2)

Response

Merrill: Public relations provides an essential news service

175

(6)

Journalism Is a Profession

181

(11)

Challenge

Merrill: Journalism is not a profession

181

(4)

Response

Dennis: Journalism is a profession

185

(7)

Globalism and the Media

192

(11)

Challenge

Dennis: Globalism greatly benefits people, the media and freedom of expression

194

(3)

Response

Merrill: Globalism harms national and local media thus impairing freedom of expression

197

(6)

Media Debates Digitology

203

(2)

Index

205

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Media Debates Great Issues for the Digital Age (with InfoTrac)

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials