Media Mania: Why Our Fear of Modern Media is Misplaced

by Hugh Mackay

We often blame the ills of society on the violent television programs, shock news stories, and the insidious influence of advertising. But how much effect do the media have on our thinking and actions and can we blame them for everything we think is wrong with modern society? In Media Mania, Hugh Mackay addresses these questions and others in an examination of the influence of the media in our lives.

96 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

About the author

Hugh Mackay is a social researcher and novelist who has made a lifelong study of the attitudes and behaviour of Australians. He is the author of twelve books, including five bestsellers. The second edition of his latest non-fiction book, Advance Australia…Where? was published in September 2008, and his fifth novel, Ways of Escape was published in May 2009.

He is a fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and received the University of Sydney’s 2004 Alumni Award for community service. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, Hugh has been awarded honorary doctorates by Charles Sturt, Macquarie and NSW universities.

He is a former deputy chairman of the Australia Council, a former chairman of trustees of Sydney Grammar School, and was the inaugural chairman of the ACT government’s Community Inclusion Board. He was a newspaper columnist for almost 30 years and now writes occasionally for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The West Australian. He is a frequent guest on ABC radio.

- Biography from Hugh Mackay's website

Reviews

[Hannah Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read, and especially interesting more than 20 years later - a 20 years where technology and media has evolved so rapidly. Despite the book’s age, I found the arguments relevant to both TV (the focus of Mackay’s arguments) and to social media / other new medias. I enjoyed his analysis of the role of violence and media, which argued that media may provide expression to violent feelings, but that these feelings are largely contextual and based on the larger violence of society or violence taking place on children’s own homes. My favourite takeaway, though, was that society influences media, and that we have a choice as to how our media is formed and how we engage with it. As a society we’ve especially gotten into the habit of talking about social media and AI as if they’re uncontrollable forces pushing us around. In reality, we have agency around what we want to see and create. For this reason, I found this a thoughtful and inspiring read.

[Dee Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting opinion (well referenced) about how tv and even social media, the internet and so on are influencing kids. I have 3 'connected' kids who I worry are spending too much time on their tablets and phones and not enough time reading. After reading this book I now have a changed opinion about how the youth of today connect and communicate with their peers.