We need a free press more than ever

I’m a bit late with this, as the book has been out a few days or so. But it’s worth getting hold of Mick Hume’s book about newspapers: There is No Such Thing As A Free Press. It’s very good, a timely defence of freedom of the press at the time of Leveson, but rightly critical too of our manifest failings; our narcissism and laziness and sense of self importance. Here’s Hume at the end of the book in admonishing mode:

‘Journalism should be more humble – and take itself more seriously. We need journalism to recognise that its primary responsibility is to report and reflect the world, not to run it or rescue it. Yet at the same time journalism should take itself more seriously and recognise just how important it is. A free media has a vital role to play in informing public debate with the facts and the arguments that society needs to get close to the truth.’

Yes, I make that about right. Mick’s book was printed by Societas and you can get a copy for nine quid in your local bookstore.