We find ourselves at a confusing stage in the development of mass media and of their relationship to society. The media have acquired greater autonomy and an institutional dynamic of their own. ‘Society’ also appears more self-conscious than ever about the power of the media, yet with less power to influence their content and direction. The very notion of cultural policy has a dubious ring to many ears, on both the liberal and conservative wings of the mainstream political spectrum. It connotes commissars, preachers and regulators, cultural correctness backed by thought police or armies of middle-aged, middle-class bureaucrats. No doubt there are ...