A Right to Offend Free Expression in the Twenty-first Century

Over the past two decades, there have been a series of events that have brought into question the concept and practice of free expression. In this new book, Winston provides an account of the current state of freedom of expression in the Western World. He analyses all the most pertinent cases of conflict during the last two decades -including the fatwa against Salman Rushdie, the incident of the Danish cartoons and offended celebrities - examining cultural, legal and journalistic aspects of each case. A Right to Offend offers us a deeper understanding of the increasingly threatening environment in which free speech operates and is defended, as well as how it informs and is central to journalism practice and media freedom more generally. It is important reading for all those interested in freedom of expression in the twenty-first century.

Brian Winston is Professor of Communications and holder of the Lincoln Chair at the University of Lincoln, UK. He has held senior academic posts at UK National Film and Television School, New York University, Pennsylvania State University, the University of Wales (Cardiff), Westminster University and the University of Lincoln where, before his present position, he was a Pro-Vice Chancellor. At the University of Glasgow, he was the Glasgow Media Group's first director, producing Bad News (1976) and More Bad News (1980). His other books include Media Technology and Society: A History from the Telegraph to the Internet (for which he won 'Best Book of 1998', American Association for History and Computing) and Messages: Free Expression, Media and the West from Gutenberg to Google (2005).