Battles in Print & Culture Wars

Battles in Print are specially-commissioned essays that explore topics being discussed at the Battle of Ideas 2008, serving as introductions to the debate and encouraging further reflection. Battles in Print take a variety of forms, from short provocation essays to longer think pieces and interviews, and are available both online and in print at the festival itself. They are complemented by themed book reviews on Culture Wars, the Institute of Ideas' online review, which was relaunched this summer.

Editors: Dolan Cummings and Sarah Boyes

The 2008 Battles in Print are now available below. Select a theme on the left to see related Battles in Print from the archive.

 Media

In defence of campaigning documentaries, Jess Search

Rethinking privacy, Sean Bell

Response to Norman Lewis, Robin Walsh

Spectres haunting journalism: the 'what crisis?' crisis, Andrew Calcutt

Adult insecurities drive the myth of the digital child, Norman Lewis

Cry havoc and let slip the blogs of war (or, sense and nonsense about citizen journalism), George Brock

Is TV Good For Children?, Wendy Earle

Does the media dumb down complex ideas in the arts, science and politics?, Jonathan Tuchner

 Festival Buzz

"I was amazed by the high quality of the Battle of Ideas 2007 and the intellectual excitement that it provoked."
Prof Malcolm Grant CBE, president and provost, University College London