Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Guy Starkey offers a clearly structured discussion of 'balance' in the media, and the difficulties inherent in both achieving and measuring it. Providing an analysis of theoretical issues, an exploration of practical considerations and a review of methods for assessing journalistic output, it will appeal to students of journalism and media studies.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• List of figures (p. ix)
• List of tables (p. x)
• Preface (p. xi)
• Acknowledgements (p. xiii)
• List of abbreviations (p. xiv)
• Introduction (p. xvi)
• Balance, bias, impartiality and objectivity: early definitions (p. xvi)
• Problematizing the problematic (p. xvi)
• Understanding balance and bias (p. xx)
• 1 A Question of Balance: Reality and Representation (p. 1)
• Representing 'reality' (p. 1)
• Knowing 'reality' (p. 5)
• Constructing 'reality' (p. 9)
• Making 'reality' (p. 13)
• Competing realities (p. 17)
• 2 Balance in Broadcasting: Representation and Regulation (p. 21)
• Democracy and 'impartiality' (p. 21)
• Influence and control (p. 25)
• Regulation and broadcasting (p. 30)
• 'Balance' in practice (p. 34)
• Achieving 'balance' (p. 38)
• 'Impartiality' in broadcasting (p. 42)
• 3 Power and Responsibility: The Press, the People Self-regulation (p. 46)
• Democracy and the press (p. 46)
• Ownership and allegiance (p. 48)
• Bias in practice (p. 55)
• The case for content regulation (p. 64)
• 4 In the Eye of the Beholder: Audience Perspectives of Balance and Bias (p. 68)
• Audiences and the media (p. 68)
• Using audiences in media research (p. 73)
• Partial audience readings (p. 78)
• Research among the Today 'audience' (p. 81)
• Comparing audience responses (p. 88)
• 5 Broadcast Talk and the Printed Word: A Balancing Act (p. 92)
• Discourse and bias (p. 92)
• Achieving 'balance' (p. 96)
• Production bias in political positioning (p. 100)
• Discourse in interviews (p. 105)
• Questions and answers (p. 110)
• 6 Mediated Imperialism: International Journalism in the Global News Market Place (p. 115)
• International media (p. 115)
• Globalization and resistance (p. 121)
• Imperialism and the media (p. 125)
• Partisanship and public interest (p. 128)
• 7 Case Studies: Balance and Bias in Practice (p. 131)
• Mainstream current affairs television: Breakfast with Frost (p. 131)
• Televised panel debate: Question Time (p. 134)
• Today and UK general elections in 1997, 2001 and 2005 (p. 139)
• Hell hath no fury...reality and representation in press coverage of the Millennium Dome (p. 152)
• Conclusion (p. 157)
• Notes (p. 159)
• Bibliography and further reading (p. 161)
• Index (p. 175)