First published 1997
Americans no longer trust their news media, and journalist James Fallows knows exactly why. Drawing from his National Book Award-winning career and the missteps of prominent colleagues like George Will and Cokie Roberts, Fallows dissects how modern journalism has failed its audience. Shows like "The McLaughlin Group" turn reporters into screaming pundits. Complex policy issues like healthcare reform get stripped down to political theater. The media have not simply lost public respect but have actively pushed citizens away from engaging with civic life. Fallows moves past familiar complaints about sensationalism to expose deeper structural problems plaguing American journalism. This controversial analysis offers readers a clear-eyed look at how the fourth estate betrayed its fundamental mission.
Genres: american, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism
Vibes: analytical, critical, thought-provoking
Tropes: institutional-critique, social-commentary
352 pages · Paperback · Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group