The Media and the Making of History

John Theobald author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:30th Jun '20

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

This paperback is available in another edition too:

The Media and the Making of History cover

While the huge impact of the mass media on everyday social life is acknowledged, it has generally been assigned a peripheral role in the historical process. This intriguing book demonstrates that, far from being a footnote, media discourse has been a critical factor in recent European history, and indeed one that distinguishes the twentieth century from all previous ones. John Theobald looks back to the First World War, analyzing the use and abuse of journalistic discourse in the portrayal of events to the public and to decision-makers. He goes on to present a series of case studies demonstrating the active mass media role in a selection of key events from the twentieth century including: the Cold War, the collapse of Communism in the GDR and German unification, debates over the European Union and the impact of September 11, 2001. He sets these studies within the context of traditions of radical mass media criticism from early analysts such as Kraus, Tönnies and Tarde through to contemporaries such as Chomsky, Bourdieu and Pilger.

’Real critical examination of the media, especially its place in great power, is still taboo among most journalists. John Theobald breaks that taboo in a powerful, incisive book that ought to be standard issue in media colleges.’ John Pilger ’This is a bold, forthright, and imaginative book that pulls no punches in its insistence on the baleful role of the mass media in the shaping of the modern world. In his provocatively perceptive case studies, Theobald marshals his topics ever closer to home, while at the same time throwing light on areas of media power and influence that will be quite new to many English-speaking readers.’ Professor John Sandford, University of Reading, UK ’The Media and the Making of History deserves a wide readership.’ MediaLens

ISBN: 9780367604509

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 453g

240 pages