Two to go...

I know of two substantive books about press regulation in Britain. One of them is priced out of my reach. The other was published in 2000, twenty five years ago, before the great press scandals of our time. But it is the one I have access to, and it provides useful context, background, and terminology. Regulating the Press, by Tom O'Malley and Clive Soley. The former an academic, the latter an MP.

I was surprised by the absence of more books on this topic, given the significance of news media malfeasance to public discourse. I'm still in the process of puzzling over explanations. Could it be that legacy media is now seen as irrelevant, given the rise of manipulative social media? Is it that people just don't see the relation between the media that gets in our faces every day and the decline in our ability to discuss, assess and act accordingly?

I reckon it's worth saying something on the topic, while also attempting to elevate my own underestanding and ability to contribute. Am tempted to take excerpts from this book and indulge in an un-asked-for serialisation, here.

So go, cat, go.