Normative Theories of the Media

Clifford G. Christians is research professor of communications and the director of the Institute of Communications Research at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Theodore L. Glasser is a professor of communication at Stanford University. Denis McQuail is a professor emeritus of mass communication at the University of Amsterdam. Kaarle Nordenstreng is a professor of journalism and mass communication at the University of Tampere, Finland. Robert A. White is a professor of social sciences and communications at St. Augustine University of Tanzania.

• Preface; Introduction: Beyond Four Theories of the Press; Part One: Normative Theory; Chapter 1. Evolution of Normative Traditions; Chapter 2. Characteristics of Normative Theory; Part Two: Democracy; Chapter 3. Principles and Practice of Democracy; Chapter 4. Roles of News Media in Democracy; Part Three: Roles; Chapter 5. Monitorial Role; Chapter 6. Facilitative Role; Chapter 7. Radical Role; Chapter 8. Collaborative Role; Prospects; Conclusion; References

Awarded the Frank Luther Mott-Kappa Tau Alpha Research Award for best research-based book on journalism/mass communication, 2010."[The contributors] see four roles for the press: a monitor of events in the world, a facilitator of democratic decision making, a radical communicator free of any restraint, and a collaborator with those in power. Each of these four is explained in detail, with many excellent examples. . . . Highly recommended.”--Choice "A deeper and more satisfactory approach to tackling many of the issues first raised in Four Theories [of the Press]."--Australian Journalism Review "This long-awaited book by a group of the most distinguished scholars of journalism and the media will define the terms of discussion of normative theory for the next generation."--John C. Nerone, coauthor of The Form of News: A History