Dumbing down is good for you

Abstract

There has been considerable academic debate about the 'dumbing down' of the media, most of it characterizing the process as having a negative impact upon democratic political discourse. This paper argues that the so-called dumbing down of political coverage is an essential part of engaging people on political issues and that popular television such as chat and reality shows capture and engage audiences unresponsive to more conventional coverage of social issues. A public sphere focussed on the rational and 'high-minded' coverage of politics is an inadequate representation of how most people receive political knowledge and make judgements about important issues. In addition, therefore, concerns about the dumbing down of 'serious' political outputs are misplaced. A less elite-driven news agenda - one that recognizes the importance of the emotional and the apparently trivial - offers wider opportunities for political engagement to all sections of society. Finally, the paper calls for more academic involvement in the task of providing entertaining yet authoritative introductions to political issues. © 2006 Palgrave Macmillan Ltd.