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News and How to Use It

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News and How to Use It

By: Alan Rusbridger
Narrated by: Piers Hampton
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About this listen

Nothing in life works without facts.

A society that isn't sure what's true can't function. Without facts there can be no government or law. Science is ignored. Trust evaporates.

People everywhere feel ever more alienated from - and mistrustful of - news and those who make it. We no longer seem to know who or what to believe. We are living through a crisis of 'information chaos'.

News: And How to Use It is a glossary for this bewildering age. From AI to bots, from climate crisis to fake news, from clickbait to trolls (and more), here is the definitive user's guide for how to stay informed, tell truth from fiction and hold those in power accountable in the modern age.

©2020 Alan Rusbridger (P)2020 Canongate Books Ltd Law Words, Language & Grammar Writing & Publishing
All stars
Most relevant
Simple really. According to the writer, one time editor of The Guardian, the only news worth its salt is that printed by left wing broad sheets, for example The Guardian and its weekend sister The Observer. Of course one can trust the BBC which takes its editorial line from the The Guardian and the New York Post passes muster as an equivalent to The Guardian.

To be honest I stoped listening four fifths of the way through as I could no longer bear the assumed superiority of the author. Perhaps it’s owing to a weakness in my intellectual or moral foundation because for the same reason I can’t get through the daily edition of The Guardian.

Left wing editor promotes left wing journalism

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This is compulsory reading for anyone who wants to understand why factual reporting in journalism matters. "Accuracy is a destination" explains the former Guardian editor "the journey is what defines journalism. If those who wish to practice journalism aren't striving for accuracy, it isn't journalism."

The book is an alphabetical guide to key terms, names and case studies that explain how the media works and how grasping the basics of journalism could help create "a herd immunity to false formation".

You can almost hear the author/narrator sigh as he presents his case studies. There is a bit of repetition in places, mainly because so many issues overlap, but overall I loved it because of the integrity of the author. After Brexit and Trump it is reassuring to be provided a roadmap to 'truth'.

Herd immunity to false information

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The audio file here is broken. It jumps between sections mid sentence. Audible needs to fix it.

Good book ruined by scrambled narration

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