ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the historical development and current situation of Britain’s national press. It outlines the key features of the pre-WWII press, before then going into detail on the various elements of the post-WWII decline of the press, including the declining audience for paid-for physical newspapers and the shift online, and the decline of Fleet Street as a centre of production. The chapter finishes with a discussion of debates around newspaper quality and standards, linked to rising tabloidisation, and the current state of public and political attitudes towards the contemporary press.
