Description
Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking book explains why and how so many people consume little or no news despite unprecedented abundance and ease of access.
Trade ReviewThis is urgent, necessary reading for anyone in the business of news, for anyone who cares about the news, and for anyone who wants to ensure a future of fair access to knowledge and information for all. We ignore this meticulously researched and empathetically reported book at our own peril. -- Melissa Bell, publisher of Vox Media
News avoiders are one of the most neglected topics in communications research, yet listening to and understanding them may be absolutely crucial for the health of democratic culture. This precisely grounded, sociologically rigorous, and searching three-country study sets completely new standards for pursuing this elusive topic. -- Nick Couldry, London School of Economics and Political Science
This is a beautifully written book that teaches us so much about the nature of our relationships to news by looking in closely at the lives and understandings of people who choose to avoid it. -- Katherine Cramer, University of Wisconsin-Madison
This book is a wide-ranging investigation of not only the quantitative data about news avoidance but also, most importantly, the sentiments of those who have opted out of quality journalism. If journalists want to regain these readers, then it is crucial that we understand them first. This book serves as an important first step. -- Clara Jiménez Cruz, CEO of Maldita.es and chair of the European Fact-Checking Standards Network
A deep dive into the complicated reasons that people distrust the news. A must-read for any journalist who wants to serve the people, meaning all the people—not just their friends and colleagues. -- Amanda Ripley,
Washington Post columnist
Highly recommended. * Choice Reviews *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgments
1. Is Ignorance Bliss?
2. Who
Are Consistent News Avoiders?
3. Why News Avoiders Say They Don’t Use News
4. Identities: How Our Relationships to Communities Shape News Avoidance
5. Ideologies: How Beliefs About Politics Shape News Avoidance
6. Infrastructures: How Media Platforms and Pathways Shape News Avoidance
7. News for All the People?
Appendix A: Studying News Avoidance Using Interpretive Methods
Appendix B: Summary Tables Describing Study Participants
Appendix C: Interview Protocols for In-Depth Interviewing
Notes
Index
