Democratic Delusions

Natalie Fenton is Professor of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths, University of London.

• AcknowledgementsChapter 1: Democratic Delusions and the MediaChapter 2: Power and PowerlessnessChapter 3: Political Participation and Political ExclusionsChapter 4: Freedom and RepressionChapter 5: Equality and InjusticeChapter 6: Public Good and Private InterestChapter 7: Trust and DistrustChapter 8: Hope and Hopelessness: Democracy and the Media ReconfiguredNotesReferencesIndex

"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