Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,000+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Start your free trial
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
Listen to the Intro
The War on Journalism summary
Andrew Fowler
Media Moguls, Whistleblowers and the Price of Freedom
15 mins
Topics
Table of Contents
The War on Journalism
Summary of 6 key ideas
Audio & text in the Blinkist app
Key idea 1 of 6
In a democracy, the media need to be free to conduct investigations and report the news.
Do you read the news? Have you followed major developments such as Edward Snowden’s revelations about the US National Security Agency or the so-called Panama Papers?
If so, you’re familiar then with both whistleblowers and investigative journalists, and understand how the activities of both groups can affect society at large.
The media is often called the fourth estate. Coined in Britain in the eighteenth century, this term set journalists and their craft as a check on the power of society’s other “estates,” namely the clergy, the nobility and the common people.
Today, journalism’s role as the fourth estate is still important. When a government enacts harmful policies or officials pursue controversial plans, journalists are tasked with letting the public know, in effect working to curb the influence of the too-powerful in society.
The reasoning is simple. Citizens have the right to know the facts, so that they can make informed decisions.
The Guardian, for example, has a long track record of writing about controversial issues and has often collaborated with whistleblowers such as Edward Snowden on stories. The information Snowden released on the National Security Agency (NSA) in the United States – a secretive agency that was spying on US citizens and leaders abroad – sent shockwaves across the globe.
Journalists and publications such as the Guardian can only function if they can freely investigate issues on an independent basis. A free press is a crucial part of any democracy; if the state controls the press, it can limit the public’s access to information and cover up deeds about which it doesn’t want society to know.
Snowden’s NSA revelations, for instance, wouldn’t have been possible if he hadn’t had access to a free press.
While there are still many TV stations and newspapers run by governments in countries around the world, most media outlets are privately owned. This separation allows journalists to report on issues without fear of losing their jobs or being censored – or worse.
Want to see all full key ideas from The War on Journalism?
Key ideas in The War on Journalism
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The War on Journalism about?
The War on Journalism (2015) explores the challenges journalists face while seeking the truth amid increasing state control and private sector criticism. Even though the internet has allowed those in the media unprecedented access to people and information, equally technology and new rules of the game have made fact-seeking a far more problematic pursuit.
Best quote from The War on Journalism
The Snowden case revealed once again the timidity of newspapers on both sides of the Atlantic when offered an astonishing story.
—Andrew Fowler
Who should read The War on Journalism?
- Aspiring journalists and media professionals
- Students of politics or sociology
- Anyone who follows the news
Categories with The War on Journalism
Books like The War on Journalism
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked
Start growing with Blinkist now
28 Million
Downloads on all platforms
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
91%
Of Blinkist members create a better reading habit*
*Based on survey data from Blinkist customers