The Power of Journalists

Journalism has the vital function to defend and promote truth in public discourse. And yet the news media has never been under so much pressure to move away from this critical role into more partial campaigns or commercial public relations. Here four of the UK’s foremost experts introduce us to the role of the journalist as truth-teller as well as interpreter of controversial facts. The authors draw from their own work to reflect on the necessity of maintaining an impartial and independent public information service and protecting quality information from the mounting pressure exerted by political parties and the business world. The role of new technology is also taken into consideration as the explosion of social media generates trends that threaten good quality journalism and contribute to the collapse of its traditional business model.

This book is part of the collection of publications for Westminster Abbey Institute.

• 90 pages


• Paperback


• ISBN: 9781912208258