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

by Dennis, Everette E.; Merrill, John C.

• ISBN13: 9780495001812
• ISBN10: 0495001813
• Edition: 4th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-04-20
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

There's lots of debate about the role of the media. Now you can read the best presentations from each side and decide for yourself. MEDIA DEBATES: GREAT ISSUES FOR THE DIGITAL AGE sets up experts to debate the pro or the con side of twenty issues that are central to today's media. You'll not only learn more about the media, you'll also discover your own opinion along the way.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
About the Authors	xvii
Introduction	1	(4)
Chapter 1 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)
Chapter 2 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)
Chapter 3 Democracy and the Media	34	(10)
Challenge
Dennis: The media should be more democratic.	36	(3)
Response
Merrill: The media need not be more democratic.	39	(5)
Chapter 4 Concentration of Media Ownership	44	(10)
Challenge
Dennis: The new concentration of media ownership ultimately benefits the public.	45	(3)
Response
Merrill: Concentration of ownership is dangerous for people and society.	48	(6)
Chapter 5 Media and the Public Trust	54	(14)
Challenge
Merrill: The media exist mainly to make profits.	55	(4)
Response
Dennis: The media must serve the public interest to maintain credibility and make profits.	59	(9)
Chapter 6 The Right to Know	68	(13)
Challenge
Dennis: There is no right to know.	69	(5)
Response
Merrill: There is a right to know.	74	(7)
Chapter 7 Media Bias and Political Leanings	81	(11)
Challenge
Dennis: The news media are not biased.	82	(4)
Response
Merrill: The news media are biased.	86	(6)
Chapter 8 Media, Politics, and Elections	92	(9)
Challenge
Merrill: The media cover but don't control elections.	93	(2)
Response
Dennis: The media influence and often control elections.	95	(6)
Chapter 9 Public Opinion and the Polls	101	(9)
Challenge
Dennis: The media structure and shape public opinion through polls.	102	(4)
Response
Merrill: Polls in the media mainly report on public sentiment.	106	(4)
Chapter 10 Deciding What Is News	110	(13)
Challenge
Dennis: Market forces, not editors' judgments, should decide what is news.	111	(6)
Response
Merrill: Editors' judgments, not market forces, should decide what is news.	117	(6)
Chapter 11 Media Ethics	123	(10)
Challenge
Merrill: Journalists and other media people are essentially unethical.	124	(3)
Response
Dennis: Journalists and other media people are essentially ethical.	127	(6)
Chapter 12 Journalistic Objectivity	133	(17)
Challenge
Merrill: Journalistic objectivity is not possible.	134	(6)
Response
Dennis: Journalistic objectivity is possible.	140	(10)
Chapter 13 Civic/Public Journalism	150	(10)
Challenge
Merrill: Civic or public journalism is a healthy trend for the media.	151	(3)
Response
Dennis: Civic or public journalism is an unhealthy trend for the media.	154	(6)
Chapter 14 Digital Strategies: The Internet and New Media	160	(10)
Challenge
Merrill: The Internet and new media are debasing journalism.	162	(2)
Response
Dennis: The Internet and new media are strengthening journalism.	164	(6)
Chapter 15 Race, Ethnicity, and Gender	170	(11)
Challenge
Dennis: Diversity needs rethinking and reassessment.	172	(3)
Response
Merrill: Diversity does not need rethinking and reassessment.	175	(6)
Chapter 16 War, Terrorism, and National Emergencies	181	(9)
Challenge
Dennis: News and information media should be mostly unconstrained, even during wars and national emergencies.	183	(2)
Response
Merrill: News and information media should be constrained, under some circumstances, during wars and national emergencies.	185	(5)
Chapter 17 Journalism as a Profession	190	(13)
Challenge
Merrill: journalism is not a profession.	190	(4)
Response
Dennis: journalism is a profession.	194	(9)
Chapter 18 Advertising	203	(11)
Challenge
Merrill: Advertising is a negative social force.	204	(3)
Response
Dennis: Advertising is a positive social force.	207	(7)
Chapter 19 Public Relations	214	(9)
Challenge
Dennis: Public relations manipulates the news.	215	(2)
Response
Merrill: Public relations provides an essential news service.	217	(6)
Chapter 20 Globalization and the Media	223	(12)
Challenge
Dennis: Globalization greatly benefits people, the media, and freedom of expression.	225	(4)
Response
Merrill: Globalization harms national and local media, thus impairing freedom of expression.	229	(6)
Media Debates Web Resources	235	(2)
Index	237