On Television and Journalism

A corruscating attack on television - and on the 'collaboration' between intellectuals and the media which, Bourdieu argues, is leading to new and more invidious forms of dumbing down. *BR**BR*Bourdieu examines the way in which apparently serious TV debate gives way to soundbite, as a series of talking 'experts' go through the motions of comment and consideration in increasingly self-referential circles.*BR**BR*The result: banal and worthless drivel, shaped almost entirely by the imperatives of television ratings wars rather than any consideration of the truth. Television, Bourdieu claims, has now had a profound and largely detrimental effect not just on journalism, but on the formerly very separate worlds of art, literature, philosophy, politics, justice and even science - all of which are in danger of being forced to submit to what he describes as the 'commercial plebiscite' of audience ratings.

Pagina's: 112, Paperback, Pluto Press