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  • © 2019

The Media, the Public and the Great Financial Crisis

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • An accessible overview of how mass media influenced public opinion on the Great Financial Crisis
  • Examines the role that the media placed in legitimising the UK's turn to austerity
  • Provides a more general illustration of the production, content and reception of news

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Table of contents (8 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xix
  2. The Rise and Fall of British Finance

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 1-21
  3. The Banking Crisis: Content Studies

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 23-93
  4. The Banking Crisis: Audience Studies

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 95-119
  5. The Deficit Debate: Content Studies

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 121-175
  6. The Deficit Debate: Audience Studies

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 177-201
  7. The Production of GFC News

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 229-269
  8. Conclusions

    • Mike Berry
    Pages 271-293
  9. Back Matter

    Pages 295-307

About this book

This book explores the impact of the print and broadcast media on public knowledge and understanding of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis. It represents the first systemic attempt to analyse how mass media influenced public opinion and political events during this key period in Britain's economic history. To do this, the book combines analysis of media content, focus groups with members of the public and interviews with leading news journalists and editors in order to unpack the production, content and reception of economic news.

From the banking crisis to the debate over Britain's public deficit, this book explores the key role of the press and broadcasting in shaping public understanding and legitimating austerity through both short and long term patterns of media socialisation.


Reviews

“An enormously impressive book... It will be of widespread interest to academics, students and concerned citizens across the western world.”  (Professor James Curran, Goldsmiths College, UK)

“Interesting and highly important...this book will be a must read for anyone who has an interest in the media today. ”  (Professor Simon Wren-Lewis, University of Oxford, UK)

“A book that explores two of the greatest media conundrums: how people are influenced by press and broadcasting outlets even when they say they distrust them; and how alternatives to the status quo are successfully marginalised.” (Roy Greenslade, Guardian, UK)

“Mike Berry’s incisive and meticulous study of the circumstances in which austerity came to dominate the media narrative, and his conclusions on the implications for future progressive governments in the UK, are essential reading for today’s left.” (Howard Reed, former chief economist, IPPR, UK)

“Indispensable for any full understanding of the recent and current history of British capitalism.” (Professor Peter Golding, Northumbria University, UK)

“If you want to know why we need to reform our media read this book. Through detailed empirical research of news production, news content and audience reception Berry reveals how the media were key to the public understanding of and attitudes towards the financial crisis. He reveals how a policy of austerity became acceptable and ultimately how the banks got away with it. A brilliant exposition of the weaknesses of economic journalism and how much we rely on it. Media power is interrogated and found to be alive and kicking.  How can the same practices be prevented in the future? Read this book and find out.” (Professor Natalie Fenton, Goldsmiths College, UK) 

Authors and Affiliations

  • Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

    Mike Berry

About the author

Mike Berry is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University, UK. His previous books include More Bad News from Israel (2011) and Terrorism, Elections and Democracy (2010) and he has produced research for organisations such as the BBC Trust, UNHCR, TUC and NSPCC.   

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 19.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access