Media and Politics, second edition, offers a thorough introduction to the politics of the Australian media, particularly the effect that Australia's liberal democratic tradition has on the operation and structure of the media, and in turn the effect of the media on politics.

It examines the development and evolution of the Australian media, as well as the key debates and controversies which have shaped the domestic media landscape in the last decade. It seeks to explain the dynamics of contemporary media policy and technology while using an approach that locates such changes in enduring principles of political power and institutional behaviour.

1. The Liberal Democratic Tradition and Australia’s Media: An Introduction
2. An Overview of the Australian Media: The Actors, Institutions and Processes.
3. The Public and Media: Couch Potato or Rational Consumers?
4. The News Media in Action: Pawn, Villain or Saint?
5. The Politics of Spin
6. The Permanent Campaign
7. The Proscription and Prescription of Media Content
8. New Developments in Media Ownership
9. Public Broadcasting: Wither the ABC and SBS?
10. New Media and the Prospects for Democracy
11. Global Politics, Global Media

Wayne Errington - Lecturer, University of Adelaide

Narelle Miragliotta - Lecturer, Monash University