Shame the Devil: How Critics Keep American Journalism Honest

American press critics strive to protect our free and democratic nation by pushing back against bias when the press loses sight of the truth. "Shame the Devil" explores this history, profiling and analyzing press critics such as Walter Lippmann, George Seldes, A. J. Liebling, and Noam Chomsky. It moves from press commentary in the aftermath of World War I to the post-truth era, addressing how the press can help create and sustain a more democratic society.

Format: Hardback
Length: 308 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

When the press loses sight of truth and succumbs to bias, American press critics step forward to protect our free and democratic nation. Journalists have faced criticism throughout their careers, and some disputes have escalated to outrage and even acts of violence. However, there is another history of press criticism that, while not involving physical threats or denunciations, can be merciless when critics believe the press has become excessively biased in one direction, has fallen short of some ideal, is too concentrated for its own good, or is failing to report or ignore critical stories of the day.

Shame the Devil is a comprehensive exploration of this alternative history. Written by Walter Lippmann, widely considered the first modern press critic, the book offers a chapter-by-chapter profile and analysis of his successors. These include prominent critics such as George Seldes, A. J. Liebling, Ben Bagdikian, Reed Irvine, Neil Postman, and Noam Chomsky, who approach journalism from both within and outside the profession. A concluding chapter brings together a diverse group of contemporary critics, including Sharyl Attkisson, Brooke Gladstone, Eric Deggans, Amy Goodman, Janine Jackson, and Candace Owens.

Merging history, biography, and a candid analysis of various critical points of view, Shame the Devil spans from press commentary in the bitter aftermath of World War I to the perplexing paradoxes of the post-truth era. Throughout, some of America's finest critics engage with both the significant events of their time and the fundamental issues of journalism to pose the enduring question: How can the press contribute to the creation and sustenance of a more democratic society?

Weight: 599g
Dimension: 232 x 161 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538174814