Democracy Without Citizens: Media and the Decay of American Politics

In this penetrating analysis, Robert Entman identifies a 'vicious circle of interdependence' as the key dilemma facing American journalism. He argues that the mass media cannot provide consistently high-quality, independent political journalism, because selling such a product--which might create a sophisticated citizenry--requires an audience that is already sophisticated. Entman offers provocative observations on the real biases of the media, presidents' management of news 'spin, ' and much more.