Power Without Responsibility: Press, Broadcasting and the Internet in Britain

by James Curran, Jean Seaton

This book attacks the conventional history of the press as a story of progress; offers a critical defence and history of public service broadcasting; provides a myth-busting account of the internet; a subtle account of the impact of social media and explores key debates about the role and politics of the media.

It has become a standard book on media and other but it has also gone beyond an academic audience to reach a wider public. Hailed as ‘a classic of media history and analysis’ by the Irish Times and a book that has ‘cracked the canon’ by the Times Higher, it has been translated into five languages.

This edition contains six new chapters. These include the press and the remaking of Britain, the rise of the neo-liberal Establishment, the moral decline of journalism, the impact of social media and a history of attempts to reform the press. It contains new research on the relationship between programmes, institutions and society. It places key UK institutions in the wider context of international affairs and their impact. The book has been updated to take account of new developments like Brexit and the rise of Jeremy Corbyn and the shift in authority and legitimacy prompted by social media. It does this with a clear explanation of how policy can shape media outcomes.

Genres: Journalism, Politics, Nonfiction, Sociology, History, Social Science

575 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

James Curran is Professor of Communications at Goldsmiths College, London. He has published over 18 books, including Culture Wars: The Media and British Left (with Ivor Gaber and Julian Petley) (Edinburgh University Press, 2005), Power without Responsibility (with Jean Seaton), 6th edition (Routledge, 2003), Mass Media and Society (ed. with Michael Gurevitch), 4th edition (Arnold, 2005) and Media and Power (Routledge, 2002).

Reviews

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the 6th edition was released I proofread the new chapters (about t'internet) and I've finally read the rest and found - to my dismay - that there are many errors in the other chapters too: "Hilter", and "Murdock" for example! Don't be put off though, because this is a really excellent introduction to the history and theory of media in Britain. The authors (and I should declare an interest here: I know one of them, which is how I got the proofreading gig) make their political viewpoint clear throughout but, unlike many of the books I've read this year, I didn't get the feeling they were trying to impale me repeatedly on the same ideological skewer. Instead, clear arguments are deployed, evidence marshalled and a progressive (if that isn't too tarnished a word) thesis is set out. I haven't read much about the history of the media and I found myself learning a lot, and my preconceived assumptions were given a good roughing up along the way.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 1 - Press History (James Curran)

1 - Whig press history as political mythology

- "The winning of press freedom is attributed in part to a heroic struggle against state repression" (1641 Abolition of the Court of Star Chamber, 1694 Ending of Press Licensing, 1792 Fox's Libel Act and 1853-61 Repeal of Press 'taxes on knowledge' Taxation).
- Advertising as midwife of press freedom - revenue as single factor in enabling the press to emerge as the Fourth Estate.
- Politicians seeking indirect ways of bringing state power on unsympathetic journalism - Thatcher appointed 'Peacock Committee' - investigated BBC funding and created a free market system under the guise of ending press censorship and broadcasting regulation.
- Arguably, this gave room for a Liberal/Conservative stronghold on the media, that feigned the maturing of Britain's democracy to become more responsible and less partisan, but becoming exactly the opposite.
- Backlash to Thatcherism could be found in elements of the reformist press which contributed to the building of the welfare state.

2 - The struggle for a free press

- Whig interpretation of press history refers to mainstream newspapers, while ignoring or downplaying the development of the radical press.
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3 - The ugly face of reform
4 - The industrialisation of the press
5 - The era of the press barons
6 - The press under public regulation
7 - Fable of market democracy

Part 2 - Broadcasting History (Jean Seaton)

8 - Reith and the denial of politics
9 - Broadcasting and the Blitz
10 - Social revolution?
11 - The BBC under threat
12 - Class, taste and profit
13 - How the audience is made
14 - The first new media
15 - Broadcasting roller-coaster

Part 3 - Rise of New Media (James Curran)

16 - New media in Britain
17 - History of the internet
18 - Sociology of the internet

Part 4 - Theories of the Media

19 - Metabolising Britishness (Jean Seaton)
20 - Global Understanding (Jean Seaton)
21 - The liberal theory of press freedom (James Curran)
22 - Broadcasting and the theory of public service (Jean Seaton)

Part 5 - Politics of the media

23 - Contradictions in media policy (Curran/Seaton)
24 - Media reform: democratic choices (James Curran)

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 - An all-encompassing account and education of the British media, press and broadcasting industry. From the left wing press being effectively abolished due to lack of advertising, to New Labour's alliance with Rupert Murdoch to the effects of globalisation, this has it all. I feel that this has put me in a great position for studying media/journalism at University next year, and although it took me a long time to get through it was worth it. I would suggest this book to anyone who has an interest in this sector. It also enabled me to see how closely aligned media and politics are, thus helping me with my current Government and Politics A-Level, and helping me to hone in on this specific cross-section as my specific interest. The only reason I gave it 3.5 stars and not higher was it was difficult to plough through at times, and certain sections dragged slightly - was brilliant other than this.

[Ollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intreaging and informative study of the rôle and formation or the British media.

[Sam Tobin · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential account of the British press and broadcast history. Curran deals with the press; Seaton with broadcasting. The authors also address the new media.

The best section is Curran's account of the press where he dispels the still popular Whig theory of press history, showing how the market system was a more effective censor than state censorship.

[Robert Geoghegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good place to start if you want to understand British media.