Mass Media

by Margaret Haerens

Overview

This collection of essays addresses the role of the news media, examines the issue of media bias, explores the impact of media on society, and speculates on the future of mass media. Readers are presented with a for-or-against sequence of essays that tackle these issues. By seeing more than one viewpoint, readers will think critically in order to form their own opinions. Is there a liberal media bias? Is news media fact-checking futile? Has Twitter transformed journalism? These queries and more are debated and answered for readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737766615
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	03/27/2014
Series:	Opposing Viewpoints Series
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	14 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 What Should Be the Role of the News Media?

Chapter Preface 19

1 Ignored Factchecks and the Media's Crisis of Conscience Brendan Nyhan 21

2 News Media Fact-Checking Can Be Selective and Biased James Toronto 27

3 News Media Fact-Checking Is Futile Jack Shafer 37

4 News Media Fact-Checking Is a Tool to Control Public Discourse Mark Hemingway 42

5 The News Media Must Do a Better Job of Informing the Public of Vital Global Developments Juan Cole 56

6 The News Media Should Celebrate Traditional Values Dan Gainor 67

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 73

Chapter 2 Are the News Media Biased?

Chapter Preface 75

1 The Dumbest Anchormen Jonah Goldberg 78

2 There Is a Conservative Media Bias John Merline 88

3 There Is No Significant Media Bias Paul Farhi 93

4 The Biased Media Is Trying to Influence Political Elections L. Brent Bozell III 99

5 Charges of Media Bias Are an Attempt to Influence Media Coverage Eric Alterman 104

6 A Partisan Media May Inspire Participation and Interest in Political Issues Paul Starr 111

7 A Partisan Media Adds to Government Dysfunction James L. Baughman 123

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 132

Chapter 3 How Do the Media Affect Society?

Chapter Preface 134

1 Movie Violence Chic Michael Massing 136

2 There Will Not Be Blood Charles Kenny 142

3 Media Consolidation Threatens Democracy and Free Speech Ziad El-Hady 149

4 Big Government, Not Big Media, Threatens Free Speech Don Watkins 155

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 160

Chapter 4 What Is the Future of Mass Media?

Chapter Preface 162

1 Social and Digital Media Are the New Mass Media 164

The Economist

2 Mobile Technology Is the Future of Media Richard Ting 169

3 Live Blogging Is Transforming Journalism Matt Wells 174

4 Twitter Is Transforming Journalism Jeff Jarvis 179

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 187

For Further Discussion 188

Organizations to Contact 190

Bibliography of Books 197

Index 200

Editorial Reviews

Review: Mass Media "Each volume in the Opposing Viewpoints series could serve as a model...not only providing access to a wide diversity of opinions, but also stimulating readers to do further research for group discussion and individual interest. Both shrill and moderate, the selections—by experts, policy makers, and concerned citizens—include complete articles and speeches, long book excerpts, and occasional cartoons and boxed quotations...all up to date and fully documented. The editing is intelligent and unobtrusive, organizing the material around substantive issues within the general debate. Brief introductions to each section and to each reading focus the questions raised and offer no slick answers."—Booklist

From the Publisher