Abstract

This is the first of two public lectures given by Alastair Campbell, writer, campaigner and former communications director to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Humanitas Visiting Professor of Media 2013 at CRASSH .

In these lectures and in a subsequent symposium, Campbell will expand on and qualify his statement to the Leveson Inquiry two years ago: ‘…though I admire many journalists and much journalism… I also believe that there are serious and endemic shortcomings in the culture, practices and ethics of the British media’.

But he will also defend the role of journalism as a central pillar of democracy, and explain why despite those shortcomings he is optimistic that politics and media can adapt to the changes sweeping through both.

This first lecture on 13 November will explore ‘Why journalism, and why it matters in a world in flux’. Campbell will discuss the importance, power and attraction of journalism, its rapidly changing environment and practice, and its centrality to a liberal democracy.

Further details: http://www.crassh.cam.ac.uk/events/25150