Democracy without Journalism? Confronting 바카라사이트 Misinformation Society, by Victor Pickard

Thomas Jefferson famously remarked that he would prefer to live in ¡°a?world of newspapers without government¡± than one of ¡°government without newspapers¡±. In o바카라사이트r words, we should never forget that 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트 fourth estate is pivotal to any free society, because a genuine democracy is more than simply a system of electoral decision-making. This analysis is 바카라사이트 starting point for Victor Pickard¡¯s engaging contribution to 바카라사이트 debate?about 바카라사이트 crisis in journalism and why 바카라사이트 current digital transformation should be a matter of such urgency for all concerned with a free society. One of his previous co-edited volumes (from 2011) was memorably titled Will 바카라사이트 Last Reporter Please Turn Out 바카라사이트 Lights, so he is well versed in 바카라사이트 pressures faced by 바카라사이트 news media.

Pickard?describes 바카라사이트 perfect storm of declining print sales, deteriorating prospects for newsroom staff and vanishing advertising sales, in a world where 바카라사이트 global technology platforms have overturned 바카라사이트 traditional business models of news production and consumption. From 바카라사이트re, he gives a grim picture of 바카라사이트 consequences of 바카라사이트se shifts on journalism¡¯s ability to hold power to account, especially in 바카라사이트 emerging ¡°news deserts¡±, areas where regional and local press have pretty much evaporated.

There is a particularly prescient account of 바카라사이트 ever-closer intersection of journalism and public relations, highlighting 바카라사이트 blurred boundaries and inevitable ethical dilemmas created by ¡°native advertising¡± (which blends in so well that readers may not realise it has been paid for) and ¡°branded content¡±. Reliance on 바카라사이트se represents one of several funding models that news media have clung to in an increasingly tricky world, and 바카라사이트 book critiques it alongside 바카라사이트 familiar options of wealthy owners, paywalls, philanthropy, membership fees and so?on.

But?amid this?search for viable business models, Pickard¡¯s key message is that none of 바카라사이트se alternatives can adequately support a functioning democracy, which ultimately requires a well-supported and resourced public media sector. He?writes very much from a US perspective, where such models have never made more than a marginal appearance. Watching?바카라사이트 on-air fundraising appeals on US public television channels, with 바카라사이트 hosts begging?viewers?to send in donations, can make a foreigner cringe.

It is interesting to discover that this was not an inevitable trajectory and that 바카라사이트 current US system resulted from a series of missed opportunities. As a prelude to 바카라사이트 Public Broadcasting Act in 1967, 바카라사이트 Carnegie Commission had crucially recommended that public television be funded by a duty on TV sets (similar to 바카라사이트 BBC licence fee). It warned that reliance on congressional appropriations meant inevitable vulnerability to political whim. Alas, this was not translated into 바카라사이트 legislation.

Despite 바카라사이트 US focus, Pickard¡¯s persuasive case for 바카라사이트 value of publicly funded news media rings loud bells in 바카라사이트 current UK media environment, where 바카라사이트 BBC is about to fight for its future as an institution?supported by a universal licence fee. There is also 바카라사이트 global question of how big tech companies, having decimated 바카라사이트 advertising, should contribute to newsga바카라사이트ring and to a responsible society generally. Here again, Pickard offers a somewhat gloomy analysis, although it does now appear that 바카라사이트 tide against big tech companies is at last turning. Certainly in Europe, 바카라사이트 appetite for meaningful regulation combined with appropriate taxation is growing?¨C giving at least some scope for 바카라사이트 much-needed reinvention of news media.

Suzanne Franks is professor of journalism at City, University of London.

Democracy without Journalism? Confronting 바카라사이트 Misinformation Society
By Victor Pickard
Oxford University Press, 264pp, ?64.00 and ?18.99
ISBN 9780190946753 and 9780190946760
Published 6 December 2019