When the press fails : political power and the news media from Iraq to Katrina / W. Lance Bennett, Regina G. Lawrence, and Steven Livingston.

Introduction : The press and power -- Press politics in America : the case of the Iraq war -- The semi-independent press : a theory of news and democracy -- None dare call it torture : Abu Ghraib and the inner workings of press dependence -- The news reality filter : why it matters when the press fails -- Managing the news : spin, status, and intimidation in the Washington political culture -- Toward an independent press : a standard for public accountability -- Appendix A. Evidence suggesting a connection between Abu Ghraib and U.S. torture policy -- Appendix B. Methods for analyzing the news framing of Abu Ghraib -- Appendix C. Further findings from the content analysis -- Appendix D. Interview protocol.

Includes bibliographical references and index.