Screening the Public Sphere: Media and Democracy in India

Book Details:

• Author: Saima Saeed

• Brand: Routledge

• Edition: 1

• Binding: Paperback

• Format: Import

• Number of Pages: 448

• Release Date: 21-01-2016

• EAN: 9781138664012

• Package Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.0 inches

• Languages: English

About the Book:

This book presents an original social theory of media, focusing on television news as a crucial element in the relationship between media and democracy. The author, Saima Saeed, introduces and expounds on four central concepts:

1. Citizenship

2. Public Knowledge

3. Criticality

4. Power

These concepts are used to understand and evaluate the practice, ownership patterns, and content of contemporary journalistic practices.

Key Themes:

1. Citizenship and Media: The book connects the concept of citizenship to the role of media, specifically television news, in fostering democratic participation. It explores how media can inform and engage citizens in their societal roles.

2. Public Knowledge: The book emphasizes the importance of the media in providing public knowledge that informs citizens' understanding of political and social matters, contributing to a more informed public.

3. Criticality and Democracy: Criticality is positioned as a key concept for evaluating journalistic practices, questioning whether media outlets support democratic values or contribute to social control.

4. Power and Ownership: The analysis of media ownership and its influence on content is a central theme, questioning how media institutions shape public discourse and affect political outcomes.

Framing Television News in Democracy:

Saeed examines the role of television news in relation to democracy and development. By critically assessing media content, the book explores how news outlets balance the needs of democratic societies with the power dynamics created by media ownership and control. It challenges the traditional views of the role of media in democracy, considering the implications of corporate interests, political influence, and commercial pressures.

Conclusion:

This book is an insightful and comprehensive examination of media's role in democracy, particularly focusing on the power of television news. It is essential for anyone interested in media studies, communication, democracy, and the social theory of media. The conceptual framework provided by Saeed is particularly useful for understanding modern journalistic practices in a globalized media environment.