Concerned with the intersection and interdependence of public deliberation, democracy, and a politically free but responsible mass media, this volume of essays by prominent scholars in a variety of fields constitutes an important contribution to the literature on the wellsprings and safeguards of free speech, democracy, and civil society in the literally heavily-mediated social world of today. Particularly illuminating and provocative is the book's interdisciplinary discussion of the ways in which the media is and can be used in the service of deliberative equality within the public sphere-and of the ways in which the media can function both to facilitate and inhibit deliberative democracy.

David A. Snow, University of Arizona

Chambers and Costain have assembled an amazing variety of scholars on the subjects of media content and dynamics, democracy, and activism. The blending of approaches and subjects within the book makes for an interesting as well as much needed compilation.

Christian Davenport, University of Maryland

This book explores a number of key debates within deliberative democracy.

Political Theory

A winning combination of social theory, empiricism, and critical good sense by a diverse and very impressive array of contributors.

Herbert W. Simons, Temple University, author of Persuasion in Society, editor of The Rhetorical Turn