Book excerpt: Knowledge of public affairs matters: this friendly guide is an invaluable read for journalism students and journalists looking for a firm grasp on how central and local governments work, how public services operate, and how political events generate informative new stories.· Offers engaging coverage of the constitutional framework and the governing institutions of the UK, and gives stimulating insights into how they are, and could be, covered by journalists· Designed to complement NCTJ-accredited syllabi, this text is also recommended for a broad range of media qualifications· Chapters move logically through relevant topics including the economy, the electoral system, political parties, healthcare, education and housing, and conclude with 'take-home points' and 'current issues' to summarise the chapter and provide contextual knowledge· Fully updated to reflect policy changes introduced by the governments of Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak· Includes detailed overviews of the key impacts on British politics, public services, and the economy of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 'cost-of-living crisis', and the war in Ukraine· New sections outlining the impact of Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's 2022 'mini-Budget' and policy changes affecting a range of areas including asylum and immigration, housing and planning, ownership of the railways, and the National Health Service in EnglandDigital formats and resourcesThe eighth edition is available for students and institutions to purchase in a variety of formats, and is supported by online resources. The e-book offers a mobile experience and convenient access along with functionality tools, navigation features and links that offer extra learning support: www.oxfordtextbooks.co.uk/ebooks