
The End of Information
Media, Knowledge and Education in a Post-Truth Age
David Buckingham(Author)
Polity Press
1st Edition
Published on 13. March 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-5095-6947-2 (ISBN)
Description
Are we really living in a post-truth age? Have ideas like information, knowledge and truth passed their sell-by date? Is 'information disorder' leading to the terminal decline of democracy? Or will fact-checkers, media regulators and educators come to the rescue?
The End of Information cuts through the exaggerated claims that have been made about these issues. Interrogating the key terms in the debate, including trust, democracy, news, and information itself, the book offers a clear-eyed evaluation of potential solutions to the problems involved. It also considers the implications for education in relation to key issues such as literacy and knowledge. It argues that we need to look not just at the symptoms of information disorder but also at their wider political and economic causes; and it suggests that these will not be amenable to a simple 'information fix'.
Accessibly written by a leading scholar in the field, this book provides a clear introduction to the information disorders of our times and some fresh thinking about how they can be addressed. Concise, engaging and incisive, it is essential reading for students, scholars and teachers alike.
The End of Information cuts through the exaggerated claims that have been made about these issues. Interrogating the key terms in the debate, including trust, democracy, news, and information itself, the book offers a clear-eyed evaluation of potential solutions to the problems involved. It also considers the implications for education in relation to key issues such as literacy and knowledge. It argues that we need to look not just at the symptoms of information disorder but also at their wider political and economic causes; and it suggests that these will not be amenable to a simple 'information fix'.
Accessibly written by a leading scholar in the field, this book provides a clear introduction to the information disorders of our times and some fresh thinking about how they can be addressed. Concise, engaging and incisive, it is essential reading for students, scholars and teachers alike.
Reviews / Votes
"Razor-sharp analysis from one of the world's leading media education experts. David Buckingham offers a provocative yet persuasive case for media education as a means of tackling the world's current state of information disorder."Neil Selwyn, Monash University
"David Buckingham's work provides thoughtful reasoning for why we must engage more deeply with media literacy education in a time when the distraction and the diluting of information is ever present. This work is meaningful, necessary and worthy of our attention."
Belinha De Abreu, International Council for Media Literacy
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Publishing group
John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 214 mm
Width: 137 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
290 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5095-6947-2 (9781509569472)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
05/2026
1st Edition
Wiley
€16.99
Available for download

E-Book
05/2026
1st Edition
Wiley
€16.99
Available for download

Book
03/2026
1st Edition
Polity Press
€60.50
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
David Buckingham is Honorary Professor at the Institute of Education, University College London, and Emeritus Professor of Media and Communications at Loughborough University.
Content
Acknowledgements
Prologue
1. Introduction
2. Information
3. Trust
4. Media
5. Democracy
6. News
7. Regulation
8. Facts
9. Literacy
10. Knowledge
Conclusion
Notes
Index
Prologue
1. Introduction
2. Information
3. Trust
4. Media
5. Democracy
6. News
7. Regulation
8. Facts
9. Literacy
10. Knowledge
Conclusion
Notes
Index