Few books in Canada empirically and systematically examine the role journalists play in the news-making process. While there are several books that look at how journalists do their jobs, and others that examine the political process, none - until now - have analyzed the opinions of journalists and how the news is reported.

Focusing primarily on the political orientation of journalists, Miljan and Cooper investigate the link between what journalists believe about politics and how they report political issues. Using data gathered from interviews with over 800 Canadians and some 270 journalists, the authors compare how the attitudes of journalists differ from those of the general population, and how the journalists' opinions influence the daily news. By examining the way they respond to questions on the economy, social issues, and national unity, and comparing these responses with how the stories were reported in Canadian news outlets, the book arrives at the controversial conclusion that journalists, moreso than the owners of the media, are the architects of the news, engineering not only its drama, but also its ideological thrust.

A must-read for anyone interested in politics and the media, this book should be read by journalists, politicians, academics, and all Canadians who are concerned about the hidden agendas of journalists.

"[The media] seem to be nothing in themselves, and often say that they merely report what goes on. In truth, they do nothing on their own; they act in the manner of a compassionate passerby who sees an accident in the street and rushes to see if someone else can be of any assistance. But the media greatly affect how we regard government." - Harvey Mansfield, Jr.

About the Author
Lydia Miljan and Barry Cooper are both professors of Political Science. They teach at the University of Windsor and the University of Calgary, respectively.

Reviews
Hidden Agendas lays out the pervasive liberal-left bias in most big-city newsrooms. It should be a wake-up call for reporters and editors who believe themselves to be objective, but aren't. -- Lorne Gunter * National Post *
Hidden Agendas breaks new ground and expands our understanding of Canada's media. But be forewarned: Whatever your preconceptions about who's right, who's left and who's wrong, this little book is full of surprises. -- Terence Corcoran, editor-in-chief * Financial Post *
With care and skill, Miljan and Cooper subject the poisonous debate over media bias to a healthy dose of scientific analysis. All future debate over the media will have to take their research into account. This book shows that bias isn't just in the eye of the beholder. It's also in the eyes of journalists, to whom we're all beholden for our image of reality. -- Bob Lichter, president, Center for Media and Public Affairs, Washington, DC, and author of The Media Elite: America's New Powerbrokers


Awards
Short-listed for Donner Prize, Donner Foundation 2004 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9780774810197
Author Lydia Miljan
Format Hardback
Page Count 188
Imprint University of British Columbia Press
Publisher University of British Columbia Press
Weight(grams) 400g