An Aristocracy of Critics

"A fascinating, prodigiously researched intellectual history. . . . Penetrating. . . . Timely. . . . Clearly relevant to current debates."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review

"Bates skillfully blends biography and intellectual history to provide a sense of how the clash of ideas and the clash of personalities intersected."—Scott Stossel, American Scholar

“[A] masterful account. . . . Prodigiously researched and beautifully written, An Aristocracy of Critics is an authoritative and accessible study that situates the Committee on Freedom of the Press in the context of American intellectual history. It brings the commission to life, showing how their vision of the press developed into the shape that it finally took in their report. For this reason, it belongs in courses on media criticism, media ethics, and media history.”— John P. Ferré, American Journalism

“Scrupulously researched, An Aristocracy of Critics will stand as the definitive historical account of the Hutchins commission’s proceedings.”—Niall P. Stephens, International Journal of Communication

Winner of the 2021 Goldsmith Book Prize, Trade category, sponsored by the Shorenstein Center

“In decades of editing, I have always carried with me the thoughts of A Free and Responsible Press. Stephen Bates does us a service in his vivid account of its creation.”—Sir Harold Evans, author of Good Times, Bad Times and The Freedom of the Press

“A sterling piece of intellectual history of America at midcentury, and an important meditation on the problems of journalism in American life.”—Richard Tofel, president of ProPublica

"Stephen Bates tells an astonishing story about a time when U.S. media outlets were biased, polarizing and distrusted. Sound familiar? This deeply researched, vividly written book speaks directly to the age of trolls and tweetstorms."—William Powers, author of New York Times bestseller Hamlet's BlackBerry

“An Aristocracy of Critics is an elegant and seminal work about a gathering of mid-20th century intellectuals who presciently examined the role of news media in a democratic society.”—Sally Denton, author of The Profiteers: Bechtel and the Men Who Built the World