ABSTRACT
Published in 1992, this was the first book to assess the impact of television broadcasting on the House of Commons and its Member’s behaviour. It looks at the implications for political journalism as well as broader questions concerning the role of media in a democracy.
Bringing together contributions from senior broadcasters, politicians from various parties and academics and researchers, the book approaches the issues from a range of different perspectives. The first section of the book focuses on broadcasters’ accounts of the difficulties involved in establishing the structure and organisation of Parliamentary broadcasting, while the second section gives politicians’ own assessments of the consequences of the admission of cameras to the House. The third section looks at the findings of research studies assessing the type of materials broadcast, the impact on political journalism, and audience responses. The fourth section draws comparison with the American, German and European experience of televising democracy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|26 pages
Televising the Commons
part II|56 pages
The organization of Commons television: the broadcasters' perspectives
part III|44 pages
Assessments: the politicans' perspectives
part IV|91 pages
Assessments: academic investigations
part V|50 pages
Assessments: the experience from abroad