The People's News by Joseph E. Uscinski - 9780814764886

The People's NewsMedia, Politics, and the Demands of Capitalism\nAuthor(s): Joseph E. Uscinski\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: New York University Press, United States\nImprint: New York University Press\nISBN-13: 9780814764886, 978-0814764886\nSynopsis\nUncovers the surprising cause behind the recent rise of fake news\n In an ideal world, journalists act selflessly and in the public interest regardless of the financial consequences. However, in reality, news outlets no longer provide the most important and consequential stories to audiences; instead, news producers adjust news content in response to ratings, audience demographics, and opinion polls. While such criticisms of the news media are widely shared, few can agree on the causes of poor news quality. The People's News argues that the incentives in the American free market drive news outlets to report news that meets audience demands, rather than democratic ideals. In short, audiences' opinions drive the content that so often pa.