Democracy Without Citizens: Media and the Decay of American Politics

In this 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 observations on the real biases of the media, presidents' management of news "spin," and much more.