Michael Schudson Libros

The American founders did not endorse a citizen’s right to know. More openness in government, more frankness in a doctor’s communication with patients, more disclosure in a food manufacturer’s package labeling, and more public notice of actions that might damage the environment emerged in our own time. As Michael Schudson shows in The Rise of the Right to Know, modern transparency dates to the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s—well before the Internet—as reform-oriented politicians, journalists, watchdog groups, and social movements won new leverage. At the same time, the rapid growth of higher education after 1945, together with its expansive ethos of inquiry and criticism, fostered both insight and oversight as public values. “One of the many strengths of The Rise of the Right To Know is its insistent emphasis on culture and its interaction with law...What Schudson shows is that enforceable access to official information creates a momentum towards a better use of what is disclosed and a refinement of how disclosure is best done.” —George Brock, Times Literary Supplement “This book is a reminder that the right to know is not an automatic right. It was hard-won, and fought for by many unknown political soldiers.” —Monica Horten, LSE Review of Books

The book explores the alarming decline in voter participation and civic engagement since 1996, questioning the effectiveness of popular sovereignty. It delves into the reasons behind citizens' apathy towards government and public affairs, raising critical concerns about democracy's health and the implications of disengagement for society. Through analysis and reflection, it challenges readers to consider the future of democratic participation and the responsibilities of citizenship.

Some view news as mere information reflecting the world, while others see it as propaganda with a partisan slant. Michael Schudson argues that news is both and neither; it is a cultural form with its own conventions, wielding subtle and complex power. This exploration reveals the news media as a central institution in modern society, serving as a repository of common knowledge and cultural authority. Schudson, a leading voice in journalism and mass communication, traces the evolution of news alongside American democracy and industry, influenced by broader social forces. He delves into the roots of contemporary journalistic practices, such as interviews, summary leads, and the reporter's detached stance on politics. His work challenges myths held by journalists and critics alike, debunking the notion that the press instigated the Spanish-American War or toppled Nixon, or that television swayed public opinion during the Kennedy-Nixon debates or the Vietnam War. So, what is the role of news? Schudson illustrates that media serve to mediate; by publicizing knowledge, news transforms its nature and empowers people to act in new, meaningful ways. His analysis is enriched by historical scholarship and insightful inquiries into the production, meaning, and reception of news today.

Introduction: where journalism came from -- 14 or 15 generations: news as a cultural form and journalism as a historical formation (2013) -- Interviewing Walter Lippmann's ghost (2016) -- Objectivity 1.0, objectivity 2.0, and post-objectivity? (unpublished) -- Going deeper into contemporary journalism -- The danger of independent journalism (2005, revised 2017) -- Belgium invades Germany (2017, unpublished) -- Journalism in a journalized society (2017, unpublished) -- The crisis in news: can you whistle a happy tune (2016) -- Short takes on journalism and democracy -- Citizenship and "The Simpsons" (2011, revised 2017) -- The multiple political roles of American Journalism (2017) -- Democracy as a slow government movement (2017, unpublished) -- Afterword -- Second thoughts: Schudson on Schudson

A personal, trenchant, and comprehensive account of the contemporary news media.

Why, in the age of Trump and fake news, journalism matters more than ever--

Examining advertising as a business and social institution, the book offers a critical perspective on its role in society. Rather than succumbing to moral outrage or conspiracy theories, it provides a balanced analysis within a sociological and historical context. The author argues that advertising's significance and effectiveness are often overstated by both supporters and detractors, revealing a more nuanced understanding of its impact on modern culture.