Product Description

Covering all principal media forms, print and electronic, on both sides of the border, Horgan shows how Irish history and politics have shaped the media of Ireland and, in turn, been shaped by them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #774393 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
'A critical history of the Irish media is long overdue; Horgan's compact but comprehensive study fully fills that scholarly niche. A timely, welcome and authoratitive volume.' - Dermot Keogh, Dept of History, University College Cork, Ireland

From the Back Cover
Irish Media: A Critical History maps the landscape of media in Ireland from the foundation of the modern state in 1922 to the present. Covering all principal media forms, print and electronic, in the Republic and in Northern Ireland, John Horgan shows how Irish history and politics have shaped the media of Ireland and, in turn, have been shaped by them.
Beginning in a country ravaged by civil war, the book traces the complexities of wartime censorship and details the history of media technology, from the development of radio to the inauguration of television in the 1950s and 1960s. It covers the birth, development and - sometimes - the death of major Irish media during this period, examining the reasons for failure and success, and government attempts to regulate and respond to change. Finally, it addresses questions of media globalisation, ownership and control, and looks at issues of key significance for the future.
John Horgan demonstrates why, in a country whose political divisions and economic development have given it a place on the world stage out of all proportion to its size, the media have been and remain key players in Irish history.

About the Author
John Horgan is Professor of Journalism at Dublin City University, and the author of a number of acclaimed political biographies, notably Sean Lemass (1997) and Noel Browne (2000).

Customer Reviews

excellent introduction into Irish media
Anyone interested in the development of Ireland's print and electronic media should read this book. From the Irish Independence in 1922 to the arrival of commercial television in 1998, the media system has always reflected the social and political situation in the Republic. Horgan's obvious knowledge of Irish politics adds greatly to this book focussing on the relation between media and politics. Horgan also pays ample attention to the media situation in Northern Ireland and the presence of the British media in both parts of the island. Personally, I would have liked to read more about broadcasting and less about the print media. The book is a bit unbalanced in that respect. But it's still a very readable and informative work.