Table of Contents

Preface 1. Introduction 2. The Media and the Punitive Gene 3. Politicians, Media and Judges 4. Protecting the Public or Protecting the Politicians 5. Home Secretaries Against the Home Office 6. In the Shadow of Number Ten 7. Addicted to Distortion: The Media and UK Drugs Policy 8. The Cannabis Conundrum 9. Police and the Media 10. A Changing Media - and a New Media 11. Terrorism and the Politics of Response 12. Conclusion. Appendix: List of Interviewees

About the Author

Jon Silverman has been Professor of Media and Criminal Justice at the University of Bedfordshire since July 2007. He is a leading criminal justice analyst and authority on international war crimes tribunals and from 1989-2002, was the BBC Home Affairs Correspondent. His earlier BBC career included a spell in Paris as a correspondent (1987-89) and at Westminster as a political correspondent. In 1996, he won the Sony Radio Gold Award for his reporting of war crimes issues on Radio 4.

Reviews

'Although I don't agree with all its conclusions, I respect Jon Silverman's work. This is an interesting appraisal of an important area of our lives and our democracy. Silverman challenges us to maintain the checks and balances of a civilised society, the debate that underpins it and, in spite of the inevitable noises from the media which challenge the establishment, to respond with thoughtfulness and balance.' -- David Blunkett, MP