Democracy under attack : how the media distort policy and politics. / Malcolm Dean.

1. Rise and fall of mainstream journalism — 2. Inside and outside look at policy-making — 3. Law and order — 4. Drugs : tabloid puppets and pawns — 5. Asylum : an oppressive media campaign prompts a cowardly political response — 6. Labour's boldest bid : to end child poverty — 7. Vocational education : the biggest disappointment — 8. Health and social care : the most expensive breakfast in history — 9. The disappearance of the housing correspondent — 10. Subverting democracy (1) : seven sins of the reptiles — 11. Subverting democracy (2) : serious crimes of the reptiles.

Malcolm Dean, The Guardian newspaper’s longstanding chief monitor of social affairs, expertly indicts his own trade through a series of seven case studies on the influence of media on social policy. Drawing on four decades of top-level Whitehall briefings, topped up by interviews with 150 policy-makers, the book is packed with insights, and colorful stories from events in Whitehall's corridors, culminating in a damning list detailing the seven deadly sins of the 'reptiles' (modern journalists). A new final chapter reports on the News International hacking scandal, and the subsequent Leveson Inquiry, prompting criminal and civil lawsuits and leading to a radical press regulator plan. Written in an engaging way, it offers a unique insider’s perspective and a detailed and valuable account of what goes on in newsrooms, pressure groups, departmental policy divisions and Parliament. A unique insider's perspective of news production in Britain which gives readers a flavor of what goes on in newsrooms, pressure groups, departmental policy divisions and parliament.