News: The Politics of Illusion

by W. Lance Bennett

Part of the “Longman Classics in Political Science” series, this renowned book, known for a lively writing style, provocative point of view, and exceptional scholarship, has been thoroughly revised and updated, including up-to-the-minute case studies and the latest research. This favorite of both instructors and students is a "behind-the-scenes" tour of news in American politics. The core question explored in this book How well does the news, as the core of the national political information system, serve the needs of democracy? In investigating this question, the book examines how various political actors — from presidents and members of Congress, to interest organizations and citizen-activists — try to get their messages into the news.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, History, Journalism, School

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I use this book in a class I'm teaching and though, as a former journalist myself, I think Lance Bennett is a little tough on journalists overall, it is a very strong description and explanation of what is happening in the media today. If you're interested in media and politics, this is a good basic book to build a foundation.

[Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good analytical framework about political media and the changes or lack of changes found in today's media. A good non-bias look at media and the conventional wisdom. Bennett is easy to understand and well organized in his approach.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the book that began my obsession with politics and the media. It is a book that is easy to read, yet full of truly wonderful information. Watch out, you may be sucked into a world of political junkies that you once found boring!

[Sarah R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book! Helps identify fake news. We are all part of the problem, we are all part of the solution. Made me think about media in a whole new way. Mind = blown.

[Seike Liu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book talked about a lot of problems that is facing the news industry, while the problems are well explained with the dynamics of power and resonates with the real life experience, it lacks the solution or even areas that people work on in order to fight these problem, which leads me, as a reader, into a deeper political depression.

[Lynn Richter · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you’ve been conditioned to hate Bush and anything even hinting at leaning toward the right, and if government-subsidized media gives you a “thrill going up your leg” then this is your Little Red Book.

[Leilani]

school read.

[Stephan Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this for a class that discussed media in politics. This book presented a thorough understanding of the media industry. After reading, you should have a better understanding of why the media functions as it does and see what the future holds for news.

[MM · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice overview of relationships among media, electoral/gov't politics, and U.S. democracy. Worked well for my intro class.

[Venja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liebe Lesefreunde,

sehr lesenswert wenn ihr euch für policy framing und andere Hintergründe der politischen Berichterstattung interessiert.