Is our national press a fading dinosaur? Don’t bank on it

Ofcom is now defying logic
Barnett, S. and Petley, J. 2025. Ofcom is now defying logic. British Journalism Review. 36 (3), pp. 15-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/09564748251370198

Local news as political institution and the repercussions of ‘news deserts’: A qualitative study of seven UK local areas
Barclay, S., Barnett, S., Moore, M. and Townend, J. 2025. Local news as political institution and the repercussions of ‘news deserts’: A qualitative study of seven UK local areas. Journalism. 26 (9), pp. 1803-1821. https://doi.org//10.1177/14648849241272255

Where public interest and public benefit meet: the application of charity law to journalism
Barnett, Steven, Murdoch, Tom and Townend, J. 2022. Where public interest and public benefit meet: the application of charity law to journalism. Journal of Media Law. 14 (2), p. 323–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/17577632.2022.2141225

IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? – Summary
Ramsay, G. and Barnett, S. 2021. IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? – Summary. London Communications and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/v4zx9

IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? How UK News Publishers Set Up Their Own Regulator to Avoid Scrutiny
Ramsay, G. and Barnett, S. 2021. IPSO: Regulator or Complaints Handler? How UK News Publishers Set Up Their Own Regulator to Avoid Scrutiny. London Communications and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), University of Westminster. https://doi.org/10.34737/v4zx8

Media plurality, the Fox-Sky bid, and the case for referral to Ofcom
Barnett, S., Moore, M. and Tambini, D. 2017. Media plurality, the Fox-Sky bid, and the case for referral to Ofcom. UK London School of Economics.

Murdoch has had too many favours
Barnett, S. 2017. Murdoch has had too many favours. British Journalism Review. 28 (1), pp. 51-56. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474817697599

How our mainstream media failed democracy
Barnett, S. 2016. How our mainstream media failed democracy. in: Jackson, Daniel, Thorsen, Einar and Wring, D. (ed.) EU REferendum Analysis 2016: Media, Voters and the Campaign Poole, UK Bournemouth University. pp. 47

Your BBC needs you
Barnett, S. 2015. Your BBC needs you. British Journalism Review. 26 (4), pp. 22-27. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474815620720

Plurality, policy and the local: can hyperlocals fill the gap?
Barnett, S. and Townend, Judith 2015. Plurality, policy and the local: can hyperlocals fill the gap? Journalism Practice. 9 (3), pp. 332-349. https://doi.org/10.1080/17512786.2014.943930

Four reasons why a partisan press helped win it for the Tories
Barnett, S. 2015. Four reasons why a partisan press helped win it for the Tories. in: Jackson, Daniel and Thorsen, Einar (ed.) UK election analysis 2015: media, voters and the campaign Bournemouth Centre for the Study of Journalism, Culture and Community. pp. 91

Plurality and public sector broadcasting: why and how PSBs deserve protection
Barnett, S. 2015. Plurality and public sector broadcasting: why and how PSBs deserve protection. in: Barnett, S. and Townend, J. (ed.) Media power and plurality: from hyperlocal to high-level policy London Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 45-62

The state of UK hyperlocal community news: findings from a survey of practitioners
Barnett, S., Townend Judith, Williams Andy and Harte Dave 2014. The state of UK hyperlocal community news: findings from a survey of practitioners. London University of Westminster.

Can charity save the local press?
Barnett, S. and Greenslade Roy 2014. Can charity save the local press? British Journalism Review. 25 (1), pp. 62-67. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474814526519

'And what good came of it at last?' Press–politician relations post-Leveson
Barnett, S. and Townend, Judith 2014. 'And what good came of it at last?' Press–politician relations post-Leveson. The Political Quarterly. 85 (2), p. 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.12088

Crisis? What crisis? The real BBC catastrophe is yet to happen
Barnett, S. 2014. Crisis? What crisis? The real BBC catastrophe is yet to happen. in: Mair, J., Tait, R. and Keeble, R.L. (ed.) Is the BBC in crisis? London Abramis Academic Publishing. pp. 176-182

Should journalists be regulated?
Barnett, S. 2013. Should journalists be regulated? CQ Researcher. 23 (16), p. 393.

Leveson past, present and future: the politics of press regulation
Barnett, S. 2013. Leveson past, present and future: the politics of press regulation. The Political Quarterly. 84 (3), p. 353–361. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2013.12033.x

Plurality, Leveson and the threat to the BBC
Barnett, S. 2013. Plurality, Leveson and the threat to the BBC. Political Insight. 4 (3), pp. 26-29. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-9066.12034

Stories from faraway places: international reporting, public service television and a glass half full
Barnett, S. 2013. Stories from faraway places: international reporting, public service television and a glass half full. in: Williams, G. and Petley, J. (ed.) The media in contemporary Britain: a critical approach Palgrave Macmillan.

Why the press must learn from the history and reputation of British television
Barnett, S. 2012. Why the press must learn from the history and reputation of British television. in: Keeble, R.L. and Mair, J. (ed.) The phone hacking scandal: journalism on trial London Abramis Academic Publishing. pp. 289-300

Public interest: the public decides
Barnett, S. 2012. Public interest: the public decides. British Journalism Review. 23 (2), pp. 15-23. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474812450666

From Callaghan to credit crunch: changing trends in British television news 1975-2009
Barnett, S., Gaber Ivor and Ramsay Gordon 2012. From Callaghan to credit crunch: changing trends in British television news 1975-2009. London University of Westminster.

Broadcast journalism and impartiality in the digital age: six fallacies and a counter-factual
Barnett, S. 2012. Broadcast journalism and impartiality in the digital age: six fallacies and a counter-factual. in: Ferrell Lowe, G. and Steemers, J. (ed.) Regaining the initiative for public service media (RIPE; 5) Göteborg, Sweden Nordicom. pp. 201-218

It's ownership, stupid: why plurality lies at the heart of media policy reform - and how to achieve it
Barnett, S. 2012. It's ownership, stupid: why plurality lies at the heart of media policy reform - and how to achieve it. in: Keeble, R.L. and Mair, J. (ed.) The phone hacking scandal: journalism on trial Bury St Edmunds Abramis Academic Publishing. pp. 352-364

Imposition or empowerment? Freedom of speech, broadcasting and impartiality
Barnett, S. 2012. Imposition or empowerment? Freedom of speech, broadcasting and impartiality. in: Amos, M., Harrison, J. and Woods, L. (ed.) Freedom of expression and the media The Hague Martinus Nijhoff. pp. 45-71

Crusaders or pigs in raincoats?
Barnett, S. 2011. Crusaders or pigs in raincoats? British Journalism Review. 22 (3), pp. 13-16. https://doi.org/10.1177/09564748110220030105

The rise and fall of television journalism: just wires and lights in a box?
Barnett, S. 2011. The rise and fall of television journalism: just wires and lights in a box? London Bloomsbury Academic.

Media ownership policy in a recession: redefining the public interest
Barnett, S. 2010. Media ownership policy in a recession: redefining the public interest. Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 1 (2), pp. 217-232. https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc.1.2.217_1

Why the BBC matters: memo to the new parliament about a unique British institution
Barnett, S. and Seaton, J. 2010. Why the BBC matters: memo to the new parliament about a unique British institution. Political Quarterly. 81 (3), pp. 327-332. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-923X.2010.02117.x

Minding the regional news gap
Barnett, S. 2010. Minding the regional news gap. British Journalism Review. 21 (1), pp. 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474810365394

Uutisjournalismin kehitys USA: ssa ja Britanniassa [changing trends in television news in the US and Britain]
Barnett, S. 2010. Uutisjournalismin kehitys USA: ssa ja Britanniassa [changing trends in television news in the US and Britain]. in: Leppänen, A., Heino, T.E. and Mäntymäki, E. (ed.) Yleisradio: median murroksessa Tampere Vastapaino. pp. 95-108

Periodismo, democracia e interés público [Media, democracy and the public interest]
Barnett, S. 2010. Periodismo, democracia e interés público [Media, democracy and the public interest]. Infoamérica: Iberoamerican Communication Review. 3 (4), pp. 41-56.

What's wrong with media monopolies? A lesson from history and a new approach to media ownership policy
Barnett, S. 2010. What's wrong with media monopolies? A lesson from history and a new approach to media ownership policy. MEDIA@LSE Electronic Working Papers. No 18.

A familiar assault on the BBC: a response to David Graham's report for the Adam Smith Institute
Barnett, S. 2010. A familiar assault on the BBC: a response to David Graham's report for the Adam Smith Institute. openDemocracy.

Introduction: whither the public interest in the new political economy?
Michalis, M. and Barnett, S. 2010. Introduction: whither the public interest in the new political economy? Interactions: Studies in Communication & Culture. 1 (2), pp. 167-170. https://doi.org/10.1386/iscc.1.2.167_7

TV news and the echo of Murrow
Barnett, S. 2008. TV news and the echo of Murrow. British Journalism Review. 19 (4), pp. 37-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474808100863

Can the public service broadcaster survive? Renewal and compromise in the new BBC Charter
Barnett, S. 2008. Can the public service broadcaster survive? Renewal and compromise in the new BBC Charter. in: Ferrell Lowe, G. and Bardoel, J. (ed.) From public service broadcasting to public service media Göteborg, Sweden Nordicom. pp. 87-104

The case against auctioning spectrum
Barnett, S. 2007. The case against auctioning spectrum. Westminster Media Forum on the Digital Dividend Review. 22 May 2007

Crisis, what crisis? Why young people are not deserting political television
Barnett, S. 2007. Crisis, what crisis? Why young people are not deserting political television. Television News, Young People and Politics Conference: Generation Disconnected. BFI Southbank, London 07 - 09 Sep 2007

Beyond a critical press
Barnett, S. 2007. Beyond a critical press. Media and Trust: St George’s House Parliamentary Consultation. Windsor Castle 17 Jan 2007

Reasons to be cheerful
Barnett, S. 2006. Reasons to be cheerful. British Journalism Review. 17 (1), pp. 7-14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956474806064758

Can the BBC invigorate our political culture?
Barnett, S. 2006. Can the BBC invigorate our political culture? in: Lloyd, J. and Seaton, J. (ed.) What can be done? Making the media and politics better Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishers.

Bringing the World to the UK: factual international programming on UK public service TV, 2005
Seymour, E. and Barnett, S. 2005. Bringing the World to the UK: factual international programming on UK public service TV, 2005. Witney, UK 3WE.

Opportunity or threat? The BBC, investigative journalism and the Hutton Report
Barnett, S. 2005. Opportunity or threat? The BBC, investigative journalism and the Hutton Report. in: Allan, S. (ed.) Journalism: critical issues Maidenhead, UK Open University Press. pp. 328-341

Hello sky, goodbye world
Barnett, S. 2005. Hello sky, goodbye world. in: Engel, M. (ed.) Wisden cricketers' almanack 2005 Alton, UK John Wisden. pp. 49-53

Media ownership policies: pressure for change and implications
Barnett, S. 2004. Media ownership policies: pressure for change and implications. Pacific Journalism Review. 10 (2), pp. 8-19.

The world on the box: international issues in news and factual programmes on UK television 1975-2003
Dover, C. and Barnett, S. 2004. The world on the box: international issues in news and factual programmes on UK television 1975-2003. 3WE.

Which end of the telescope? From market to cultural value
Barnett, S. 2004. Which end of the telescope? From market to cultural value. in: Tambini, D. and Cowling, J. (ed.) From public service broadcasting to public service communications London, UK Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 34-35

Can the BBC survive?
Barnett, S. 2004. Can the BBC survive? The Author.

How to achieve accountability for OFCOM
Barnett, S. 2003. How to achieve accountability for OFCOM. in: Ofcom's inbox: part one London, UK Westminster Forum Projects. pp. 33-36

Will a crisis in journalism provoke a crisis in democracy?
Barnett, S. 2002. Will a crisis in journalism provoke a crisis in democracy? Political Quarterly. 73 (4), pp. 400-408. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923X.00494

A licence for future media power
Barnett, S. 2002. A licence for future media power. British Journalism Review. 13 (2), pp. 41-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/095647480201300207

Impartiality redefined: protecting news on commercial television in Britain
Barnett, S. 2002. Impartiality redefined: protecting news on commercial television in Britain. in: Tambini, D. and Cowling, J. (ed.) New news? Impartial broadcasting in the digital age London, UK Institute for Public Policy Research. pp. 51-64

Westminster tales: the twenty-first century crisis in British political journalism
Barnett, S. and Gaber Ivor 2001. Westminster tales: the twenty-first century crisis in British political journalism. London, UK Continuum.

Half-baked plans for broadcasting
Barnett, S. 2001. Half-baked plans for broadcasting. British Journalism Review. 12 (1), pp. 64-68. https://doi.org/10.1177/095647480101200109

Distorting democracy: public opinion, polls and the press
Barnett, S. 2001. Distorting democracy: public opinion, polls and the press. in: Splichal, S. (ed.) Public opinion and democracy: vox populi-vox Dei? Cresskill, USA Hampton Press. pp. 287-309