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Reconsidering the Fourth Estate:
Member rating: No Rating | Words: | Submitted: Tue Jun 20 2006
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Reconsidering the Fourth Estate: The functions of infotainment : Reconsidering the Fourth Estate Page 1 It is hardly possible to write a history of information separately from a history of the corruption of the press. Walter Benjamin (1973:28) Abstract Criticism that TV infotainment is "dumbing down" public discourse invites investigation into the relationship between journalists and their audiences and reflection on the applicability of "fourth estate " theory to contemporary conditions. Consideration is given to the genres of infotainment - lifestyle shows, reality TV, docu-soaps, docu-games, tabloid news, talk shows, mocumentary and news sit-coms. It is suggested that when considered as a totality, these genres actually offer greater diversity of viewpoints, acuity of representation and depth of critique than traditional news and current affairs programs presently provide. Introduction Traditional TV news and current affairs programs are shrinking in terms of audience reach and thus significance to public discourse. The challenge to these...
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