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

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

• ISBN13: 9780534579333
• ISBN10: 0534579337
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-08-10
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

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