1st Edition

Journalism and Free Speech

By John Steel Copyright 2012
    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    256 Pages
    by Routledge

    Journalism and Free Speech brings together for the first time an historical and theoretical exploration of journalism and its relationship with the idea of free speech. Though freedom of the press is widely regarded as an essential ingredient to democratic societies, the relationship between the idea of freedom of speech and the practice of press freedom is one that is generally taken for granted. Censorship, in general terms is an anathema.

    This book explores the philosophical and historical development of free speech and critically examines the ways in which it relates to freedom of the press in practice. The main contention of the book is that the actualisation of press freedom should be seen as encompassing modes of censorship which place pressure upon the principled connection between journalism and freedom of speech. Topics covered include:

    • The Philosophy of Free Speech
    • Journalism and Free Speech
    • Press Freedom and the Democratic Imperative
    • New Media and the Global Public Sphere
    • Regulating Journalism
    • Privacy and Defamation
    • National Security and Insecurity
    • Ownership
    • News, Language Culture and Censorship

    This book introduces students to a wide range of issues centred around freedom of speech, press freedom and censorship, providing an accessible text for courses on journalism and mass media.

    Introduction: Free Speech Under Attack?  1: Philosophy of Free Speech  2: Freedom of Speech and the Journalistic Impulse  3: Journalism and the Democratic Imperative  4: Journalism, New Media and the Global Public Sphere  5: Regulating Broadcast Journalism  6: Privacy, Libel and the Public Interest  7: Libel and the Public Interest  8: Security and Insecurity  9: Ownership  10: Constitutive Censorship: News, Language and Culture

    Biography

    John Steel is a lecturer in Journalism Studies at the University of Sheffield, where he teaches courses on journalism and political communication, freedom of speech and censorship. He has published in the areas of popular journalism, theoretical approaches to journalism and its history, and the theory and practice and journalism education.