Julian Petley

is Professor of Screen, Media and Journalism. His interests span cinema, television and the press, with a particular emphasis on policy, regulation and freedom of expression.

Articles

Farewell Fourth Estate?

How the UK press has abandoned its ideals

To a very considerable extent, the UK’s national daily press is dominated by rightwing owners for whom “public interest” simply means “if we can sell it, we’ll tell it”. Can the the British press continue to be dignified with the epithet “Fourth Estate”, traditional watchdog on power and guardian of the people?

The retreat of reason

An attempt to put political correctness right goes disastrously wrong. On PC bashing in the British press and how it has aided the rise of the British National Party.