The Gray Area with Sean Illing

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Best of: The necessity — and danger — of free speech

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Dec 19, 2022

Guest

Margaret Sullivan

Margaret Sullivan, a media columnist for The Washington Post and former public editor of The New York Times, dives into the complex relationship between free speech and democracy. She discusses the potential dangers of misinformation and authoritarianism and the role of media in fostering or undermining democratic values. Sullivan highlights the need for media literacy and the revival of local journalism, while reflecting on the impact of the January 6th hearings and the evolving challenges to free speech in today's polarized landscape.

53:30

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Democracy's recurring pattern

Current online chaos mirrors disruptions in earlier media shifts.
These disruptions are historically common, not a unique precipice.

insights

INSIGHT

Double-Edged Media

Revolutions in communication drive both positive and negative changes.
New media technologies like Facebook have unpredictable outcomes.

insights

INSIGHT

Democracy vs. Liberalism

Democracy is an open communication culture, not just institutions or processes.
Liberalism adds constraints, like minority rights and rule of law, to protect democracy.

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Democracy, Media, and the Rise of Fascism

04:01 • 11min

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Navigating the Complexities of Free Speech

14:44 • 4min

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Challenges to Democracy and Free Speech

18:21 • 19min

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Journalism and Public Engagement

37:37 • 5min

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The Complexities of Media Neutrality and Free Speech

43:02 • 2min

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Navigating Free Speech and Democracy

45:16 • 7min

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Exploring the Fragility of Free Speech and Democracy

52:29 • 2min

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#17140

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

Ghosting the News

Margaret Sullivan

Ghosting the News highlights the alarming decline of local journalism, with over 2,000 newspapers closing since 2004. This crisis threatens democracy by allowing corruption and mismanagement to go unchecked. The book explores new efforts to revive local news, including non-profit digital sites and innovative models.

#12305

• Mentioned in 3 episodes

Newsroom Confidential

Margaret Sullivan

In 'Newsroom Confidential', Margaret Sullivan recounts her experiences in journalism, from battling sexism in early roles to navigating high-profile controversies at The New York Times and The Washington Post. The book delves into issues like media trust, diversity, and the impact of digital journalism on truth-telling. Sullivan offers a nuanced critique of journalism's current state and suggests paths for improvement.

#1169

• Mentioned in 20 episodes

Understanding media

The Extensions of Man

Marshall McLuhan

In 'Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man', Marshall McLuhan explores how different media forms influence human society and perception. He introduces the concept that 'the medium is the message', suggesting that the characteristics of the medium, rather than its content, are what truly impact society. McLuhan categorizes media into 'hot' and 'cool' types, based on the degree of audience participation required. He also discusses how media extend human senses and alter human consciousness, leading to significant social and psychic consequences. The book is a comprehensive analysis of various media, including print, radio, television, and more, and their effects on human interaction and culture.

#6150

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

The Paradox of Democracy

Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion

Sean Illing

Zac Gershberg

The Paradox of Democracy captures the deep connection between communication and political culture, from the ancient art of rhetoric and the revolutionary role of newspapers to liberal broadcast media and the toxic misinformation of the digital public sphere. With clear-eyed analysis, Gershberg and Illing show that our contemporary debates over media, populism, and cancel culture are not too different from the democratic cultural experiences of the past. They argue that democracy is always perched precipitously on a razor’s edge, now as ever before, and that democratic freedom can be self-negating due to the power of persuasion and the potential for manipulation by authoritarian forces.

#139

• Mentioned in 95 episodes

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Neil Postman

In this book, Neil Postman argues that the contemporary world is more akin to Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' than George Orwell's '1984'. Postman contends that television's emphasis on entertainment has led to a decline in rational discourse and the trivialization of politics, education, and religion. He contrasts the print-based culture of the 19th century with the televisual culture of the 20th century, highlighting how the medium of television inherently promotes incoherence and triviality, turning serious information into a form of entertainment.

Sean Illing talks with Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan about his new book The Paradox of Democracy, which he co-authored with media studies professor Zac Gershberg. Sean and Margaret discuss the relationship between free expression and democratic society, talk about whether or not the January 6th hearings are doing anything at all politically, and discuss some potential ways to bolster democratic values in the media ecology of the present.

This was originally released as an episode of Vox Conversations in July.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox

Guest: Margaret Sullivan (@Sulliview), media columnist, Washington Post

References:

The Paradox of Democracy: Free Speech, Open Media, and Perilous Persuasion by Zac Gershberg and Sean Illing (Chicago; 2022)
Ghosting the News: Local Journalism and the Crisis of American Democracy by Margaret Sullivan (Columbia Global Reports; 2020)
"Four reasons the Jan. 6 hearings have conquered the news cycle" by Margaret Sullivan (Washington Post; July 22)
Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan (1964)
Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman (1985)
Newsroom Confidential: Lessons (and Worries) from an Ink-Stained Life by Margaret Sullivan (St. Martin's; Oct. 2022)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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