September 2011: Palgrave Macmillan
This book uses case studies, interviews and analysis to explore the key changes in broadcasting, concentrating on the changing relationship between audiences and broadcast output.
• A lively and engaging text, using interviews with broadcasters and managers, as wells as research and case studies from the UK, USA, China, India, South Africa, Australia and many other countries.
• Argues that it is important to understand broadcasting’s history in order to appreciate today’s issues.
• Reveals how people ‘really’ use the broadcast media and explains why ‘on demand’ and multiplatform viewing and listening is causing a fundamental shift in our relationship with broadcasting.
• Explores the significance of Reality TV, including Big Brother and shows how social media has helped to blur the distinctions between fantasy and ‘truth’ and the continuation of broadcasting ‘myths’.
• Assesses the validity of accusations from both the ‘Left’ and the ‘Right’ of bias in broadcasting.
• Investigates the impact of broadcasting, including the TV leaders’
debates in the UK 2010 general election, and arguments that TV news coverage encourages ‘copycat’ mass killings.
• Analyses claims of ‘dumbing down’ in broadcasting and contains startling evidence of reductions in viewing of ‘serious’ programmes.
• Shows how trust in broadcasting and broadcasters is under threat, including studies of the ‘Gilligan’ and ‘Ross/Brand’ affairs.
• Considers the impact of TV and radio programmes, formats and news coverage across national borders.
• Discusses the nature and importance of Citizen Journalism.
• Makes the case for the continued importance and special appeal of radio, including ‘pirate’ radio, but reveals a potentially fatal drop in listening by younger people.
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