News

Can real news survive in an era of social media and spin? An updated edition of the smart, provocative introduction to media and American politics.-Paul Freedman, author of Campaign Advertising and American Democracy For over thirty years, News: The Politics of Illusion has not simply reflected the political communication field-it has played a major role in shaping it. Today, the familiar news organizations of the legacy press are operating in a fragmenting and expanding mediaverse as online competitors challenge the very definition of news itself. We're inundated with opinions, gossip, clickbait, false equivalencies, targeting, and other challenges-while at the same time, the rise of serious investigative organizations such as ProPublica presents yet a different challenge to legacy journalism. Lance Bennett's thoroughly revised tenth edition offers an up-to-date guide to understanding how and why the media and news landscapes are being transformed. It explains the mix of old and new, and points to possible outcomes. Where areas of change are clearly established, key concepts from earlier editions have been revised. There are new case studies, updates on old favorites, and insightful analyses of how novel kinds of information and engagement are affecting our politics. As always, News presents fresh evidence and arguments that invite new ways of thinking about the political information system and its place in democracy. Bennett argues that the American political information system-with news at its center-is broken, with serious consequences for democracy. Bennett lays out his case and invites readers to make up their own minds.-Paul Freedman, University of Virginia