Journalism and Civic Engagement

Journalism and Civic Engagement

• 1.
  Journalism and civicengagement Walter Lippmann and John Dewey grapple with democratic values
• 2.
  “What Are JournalistsFor?” • Jay Rosen describes the debate between Lippmann and Dewey in his 1999 book
• 3.
  “What Are JournalistsFor?” • Jay Rosen describes the debate between Lippmann and Dewey in his 1999 book • Today Rosen would probably ask “What Is Journalism For?”
• 4.
  Walter Lippmann • Disillusionedby propaganda to build support for World War I
• 5.
  Walter Lippmann • Disillusionedby propaganda to build support for World War I • A founder of The New Republic
• 6.
  Walter Lippmann • Disillusionedby propaganda to build support for World War I • A founder of The New Republic • Came to believe that the public should have a limited role in democracy
• 7.
  “Public Opinion” (1922) •Most people are busy, ill-informed and ill- suited for self- government
• 8.
  “Public Opinion” (1922) •Most people are busy, ill-informed and ill- suited for self- government • “Manufacturing consent”
• 9.
  “Public Opinion” (1922) •Most people are busy, ill-informed and ill- suited for self- government • “Manufacturing consent” • Lippmann put his faith in experts — a stance that later changed
• 10.
  John Dewey • Philosopher, psychologistand education reformer
• 11.
  John Dewey • Philosopher, psychologistand education reformer • Maintained a strong belief in democracy
• 12.
  John Dewey • Philosopher, psychologistand education reformer • Maintained a strong belief in democracy • A fellow contributor to The New Republic, he wrote a book-length response to Lippmann
• 13.
  “The Public &Its Problems” (1927) • Democracy is less a system of government than a society organized around certain principles
• 14.
  “The Public &Its Problems” (1927) • Those principles, as defined by Jay Rosen – “Every individual has something to contribute”
• 15.
  “The Public &Its Problems” (1927) • Those principles, as defined by Jay Rosen – “Every individual has something to contribute” – “People are capable of making their own decisions”
• 16.
  “The Public &Its Problems” (1927) • Those principles, as defined by Jay Rosen – “Every individual has something to contribute” – “People are capable of making their own decisions” – “The world is knowable if we teach ourselves how to study … it”
• 17.
  “The Public &Its Problems” (1927) • Rosen on Dewey: “A ‘public’ is a name for people who share certain problems and a common stake in their resolution. Publics come into their own when this shared stake is understood and talked about, in a fruitful way.”
• 18.
  The end ofexperts
• 19.
  But expertise hasvalue
• 20.
  Dewey and journalism •Is his vision compatible with the View from Nowhere?
• 21.
  Dewey and journalism •Is his vision compatible with the View from Nowhere? • Getting beyond “Bowling Alone”
• 22.
  Dewey and journalism •Is his vision compatible with the View from Nowhere? • Getting beyond “Bowling Alone” • How can journalism involve the public in a meaningful way?