[Commlist] New book: Democratic Delusions: How the media hollows out democracy and what we can do about it.

New book

/Democratic Delusions: How the media hollows out democracy and what we 
can do about it
<https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=9781509548477>/

As the blurb says:
/A free media is inextricably linked to a healthy democracy, but in many 
parts of the world liberal democracies are deemed to be dying or on the 
demise – a demise that many forms of media have enabled while heralding 
themselves as democracy’s saviour. The hollowing out of democracy in 
these ways has left many people questioning the value of (neo)liberal 
democratic societies. What can we do about it?

Democratic Delusions explores the potential of our media and tech 
systems to be democratic and contribute to a just and transformative 
democracy. This is only possible, Natalie Fenton argues, by first 
situating our political systems and mediated worlds within global 
capitalism. By interrogating different media and their relationship to 
seven key elements of democracy – power, participation, freedom, 
equality, public good, trust, and hope – the book asks: What is the 
response of society when the ability of news media to speak truth to 
power has been restricted by corporate logic? And, how do we tackle a 
deep-rooted market logic that shifts public debate towards private 
interest and marginalizes progressive perspectives? The book explores 
how these elements can be reimagined through newly conceived media and 
tech landscapes and, ultimately, what democracy might be in a future 
mediated world that places more power in the hands of more people.
/
and others have kindly noted:
"Written with furious clarity and great momentum, Fenton’s book 
comprehensively reimagines what we might mean by “democratic media”. It 
summons a collective fight for justice – through media, not in spite of 
them."
*Nick Couldry, London School of Economics and Political Science*

"Democratic Delusions is distressingly on point. Fenton delivers a 
masterly intervention that deftly oscillates between the delusions 
distorting our understanding of media and democracy and the hope 
necessary to imagine them “done differently.” Hitting the mark in ways 
that deepen concern while outlining reparative interventions that 
instill inspiration, this book should be on reading lists everywhere as 
a primer for those struggling to envision transformative alternatives 
for media and democracy."
*Barbie Zelizer, University of Pennsylvania*

"In this brilliant and original book, Natalie Fenton has written what 
promises to become a classic text on the structural pathologies 
afflicting us today and what new political horizons are required to 
create democratic alternatives. This book needed to be written and 
Natalie Fenton is the perfect visionary to write it. It’s a timely and 
profoundly important intervention—an invaluable resource for scholars, 
activists, journalists, policymakers, and concerned citizens 
everywhere." *Victor Pickard, University of Pennsylvania*

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