Media and Morality: On the Rise of the Mediapolis

by Roger Silverstone

Roger Silverstone's compelling new book places the global media at the heart of the moral future of civilisation. It argues that the media (the press, broadcasting, the Internet and increasingly peer-to-peer technologies and networks) have a profound significance for the way in which the world is understood by its citizens. It also argues that without a clear understanding of that significance, and without a critique of the way in which the media go about their daily business, we are likely to see an erosion in the capacity of human beings to understand and respect each other, especially those whom they see and hear only in their mediation. In a world of increasing polarisation and demonisation, the media have a powerful role to play. They can reinforce or they can challenge that polarisation. The book proposes that we should think of the global media as a mediapolis, a single space of political and social communication, in which the basis for the relationships between neighbours and strangers can be either constructed or destroyed. The mediapolis is a moral space, a space of hospitality, responsibility, obligation and judgement. And questioning its present and future requires attention to issues of media justice, media literacy and media regulation. Media and Morality is essential reading for all students and scholars of the media but will be of equal fascination to anyone interested in the workings of our modern world.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Jordan Conlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshingly self-reflexive and grounded!!

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Roger Silverstone's last work before his death. He lays the groundwork for what I think is an incredibly important concept of viewing our various media systems as interconnected as parts of modern mediapolis(es). Of paramount importance is the ability to provide not only space for voices/images of others to be heard/seen, but for consumers of media to be accomodating and willing to listen to marginalized members of society/the world. He puts forward the idea of proper distance as key to this, that is, to see the other as similar to us (proximity) but also to accept that they are different than us (distance). This work is valuable for providing an alternative theoretical framework to media ethics/morality.

[Vincent Chunhao · Rating 2 out of 5]

most interested in the literacy part. Talked about access and self-awareness -nothing too new there. The rhetorics of evil and contrapuntal culture chapters are interesting. The author is extremely wordy. Not an easy read. Plus, it was published 8 years ago.