Breaking: How the Media Works, When it Doesn't and Why it Matters

'A riveting and forensic account of a failed media and the incalculable damage it has done to our democracy' - James O'Brien 'Brimming with intelligence, energy, ethics and impeccable research' Samira Ahmed'An authoritative guide to improving your media literacy' The Big IssueThe role of the media is more important than ever. So what happens when this vital part of our society fails us and how can we even begin to understand the mess it's in?When the Manchester Arena was bombed, friends and families of victims were harassed by elements on the media; when an innocent man was linked to a case of murder, the media caused a pile on; whilst the BBC battles for balance on every issue, journalists who are supposed to hole politicians to account just happen to be their childhood friends . . . In an industry where trust between news outlets and the public is paramount, it's hanging by a thread. Through insider interviews and personal experience of newsrooms, journalist Mic Wright strips back the engine of information, entertainment and propaganda back to its constituent parts and leys it bare. Frank and comprehensive in its analysis of the modern media landscape, Breaking equips the readers withe the tools to better interrogate our news outlets, separating the fair from the ethically dubious, the truths from the half-truths and the facts from the downright lies.

• Publication date: 28 August 2026
• Page count: 336
• Dimensions: Height 197 mm; Width 128 mm; Thickness 23 mm
• Publisher: Bonnier Books Ltd
• Format: Paperback
• ISBN-13: 9781806172580