The Communication Crisis in America, And How to Fix It

"As these powerful essays attest, there is indeed a crisis in the role of our communications systems' ability to fulfill our crucial information needs, whether it's about the positions of political candidates or warning about the devastation of hurricanes and tornados. The Communication Crisis in America, And How to Fix It brings together some of the best scholars in this area to analyze journalism's ongoing role in the American democratic process, and to rethink how legacy media and digital media do and can interact to better inform our citizens. An important, urgent call for correcting how 'old ways of thinking' are undermining our media to do so much better in serving the American public." (Susan J. Douglas, Catherine Neafie Kellogg and Arthur F. Thurnau Professor, Department of Communication Studies, University of Michigan, USA) "This important book reveals the growing information gaps in local communities and offers policy solutions to restore the communication systems on which democracy depend. This is a timely and compelling work by the top thinkers in the field." (Lance Bennett, Professor of Political Science and Ruddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication, University of Washington, Seattle, USA)

Delli Carpini, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, USA

This book critiques U.S. public policy about communication and offers guidelines to improve public safety and create strong democratic communities.

with foreword by Michael X. Delli Carpini, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, USA

This book critiques U.S. public policy about communication and offers guidelines to improve public safety and create strong democratic communities. The lack of effective emergency communication, basic information about health care, education, jobs and the economy, and civic life is at a crisis state, creating problems for the whole community, not just a vulnerable few. The Communications Crisis in America is not because of changing markets or new technology, it is the failure of public policy. The authors include economists, sociologists, journalists, lawyers and a diverse group of media and communication scholars, all offering an urgent call to action and difficult, but achievable steps forward.