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About Todd Gitlin

Todd Gitlin is professor of journalism and sociology and chair of the PhD programme in communications at Columbia University. Todd Gitlin’s latest books include The Chosen Peoples:  America, Israel, and the Ordeals of Divine Election (with Liel Leibovitz) and his novel, Undying. 

 

Articles by Todd Gitlin

Thursday 17th November

Liberty Park can be anywhere

Todd Gitlin, 17 November 2011
The Occupy movement has much to gain from its symbolic eviction. But only if it evolves beyond Zuccotti.
Wednesday 16th November

How Occupy Wall Street must adapt its strategy after the Zuccotti Park eviction

Todd Gitlin, 16 November 2011
They've lost their space, but not their momentum
Tuesday 13th September

Speechless in the face of massacre

Todd Gitlin, 13 September 2011
The inability of America's leaders to summon a statement for the Ground Zero ceremony that points the way forward for the nation tells us about another kind of defeat, of the US as a collectivity.
Thursday 12th May

Todd Gitlin on 'A voice in Tahrir Square, March 25, 2011'

Todd Gitlin, 12 May 2011

I imagine that some amazing eruption of decency stopped the murderers in their tracks, convinced people of wildly different views that they ought to shut up for a moment and listen to The Other, overcame the narrowest of pinched minds, and in particular, convinced the comfortable (who are no more, though also no less, human than anyone else) that vast discrepancies in life-chances are unconscionable.  I do not know how such an eruption might take place.  There are so many counterforces, so many rewards for brutality and indifference, so many reasons to act reflexively, unthinkingly.  But I would like to think that in 2050, people will remember the faces of women like this.  She was arguing with a soldier in Tahrir Square, March 25, 2011.  She was unafraid.  She was in the spirit of openDemocracy.

Todd Gitlin, March 25, 2011
Tuesday 5th April

How to be radical? An interview with Todd Gitlin and George Monbiot

George Monbiot and Todd Gitlin, 5 April 2011
What kind of radicalism can help turn protest against injustice into a coherent movement for a progressive global politics? Here, leading voices of different generations – Todd Gitlin (‘Letters to a Young Activist’) and George Monbiot (‘The Age of Consent’) – discuss activism, nationalism, violence, and world government in an interview with Anthony Barnett and Caspar Henderson of openDemocracy.

(This article was first published on 5 September 2003)

Thursday 18th November

Media power: Murdoch, the web and the BBC, as seen from the USA

Todd Gitlin, 18 November 2010
The openDemocracy debate continues as Todd Gitlin responds to oD's Anthony Barnett and the Guardian's Alan Rusbridger, reporting on the effects of Fox and his fears that the web won't be able to restore a media the public can trust
Monday 25th May

Journalism's many crises

Todd Gitlin, 25 May 2009
Circulation, revenue, attention, authority, deference: a host of troubles force the diminishing of news
Friday 11th April

Regaining the kinetics of 1968

Todd Gitlin, 11 April 2008
An Italian film depicting brothers torn by political commitment captures the heart of an epic year
Thursday 11th May

The dust and the butterfly

Todd Gitlin, 11 May 2006
openDemocracy was conceived in a garage six years ago, and emerged from its chrysalis on 13 May 2001. Todd Gitlin, present at the creation, looks back.
Thursday 22nd December

A short wish-list

Todd Gitlin, 22 December 2005
In the last days of 2005, leading thinkers and scholars from around the world share their fears, hopes and expectations of 2006. As Isabel Hilton asks: What does 2006 have in store? (Part one)
Wednesday 16th November

The authority of anti-authority

Todd Gitlin, 16 November 2005
The left’s assault on authority in the 1960s was appropriated by the right’s counter-revolution. Todd Gitlin explores what can be done when the language of revolt becomes establishment fashion.
Sunday 15th May

After the fall: George W Bush in trouble

Todd Gitlin, 15 May 2005
Republican divisions and a revival of Democratic energies are striking features of American politics six months after George W Bush’s election victory, reports Todd Gitlin.
Wednesday 22nd December

Why the Democrats lost: an interview with Todd Gitlin

Todd Gitlin, 22 December 2004
Todd Gitin’s acute, informed, acerbic “Our election year” weekly column has been an openDemocracy highlight of 2004. He discusses the lessons of a tumultuous political year in American politics with Solana Larsen.
Monday 1st November

The forces of reason and unreason

Todd Gitlin, 1 November 2004
No less than the life of the republic itself depends on the election of 2 November 2004, says Todd Gitlin.
Thursday 21st October

Paramedia and Parrot Media

Todd Gitlin, 21 October 2004
With just over a week to go before the presidential election, the paramedia decibels are soaring and the mobilisation intensifying. Todd Gitlin on the curious convulsions and fabulous flavours of this crucial campaign.
Thursday 14th October

Bush owes no one an explanation

Todd Gitlin, 14 October 2004
For four years, President Bush has been shielded from the public and protected from contrary opinion. The three crucial TV presidential debates have revealed the true man. Advantage John Kerry.
Wednesday 6th October

Snarled up

Todd Gitlin, 6 October 2004
The Dick Cheney-John Edwards Vice-Presidential debate revealed some strange social-psychological truths, notes Todd Gitlin.
Thursday 30th September

Kerry reports (again) for duty

Todd Gitlin, 30 September 2004
John Kerry not just clearly won the first televised debate with George W Bush – he opened up a huge strategic difference over the future of United States policy in Iraq, says Todd Gitlin.
Wednesday 22nd September

Kerry comes out

Todd Gitlin, 22 September 2004
Democracy eschews the private man. Candidates for political office must publicly display their inner man. American voters must choose between a shy John Kerry and a smooth George Bush.
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