Monitoring the News: The Brilliant Launch and Sudden Collapse of the Monitor Channel - Softcover

Bridge, Susan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0765603160 ISBN 13: 9780765603166

Publisher: Routledge, 1999

Synopsis

In her colorful insider's account, Susan Bridge analyzes the bitter struggle that ensued when a sophisticated entrepreneurial leadership tried to diversify and reposition "The Christian Science Monitor" beyond the failing newspaper into radio, the Internet, multimedia publishing, and -- the highest-ticket item of all -- The Monitor Channel, a CNN-style, 24-hour news and public affairs channel. Using the Monitor's story as a focus, Susan Bridge raises fundamental questions about how and whether the public's interest can be served in an age of spiraling costs, competition between print and electronic media, changing public tastes, and undeclared media wars.

About this title

About the Author:

Susan Bridge taught political science at Wesleyan University.

From Booklist:

Bridge covers the complex intersection of business and journalism in this probing study of the Monitor Channel--the 24-hour news and public affairs operation formed by Boston's First Church of Christ Scientist, publisher of the respected Christian Science Monitor. Bridge was trained as a social scientist; she also cofounded and helped run a small regional cable network during the time the Monitor Channel was operating (late '80s through '92). In assessing the Monitor Channel's work and the causes of its demise, Bridge pursues larger questions: Can a quality news and public information operation make a profit in the current marketplace? If not, to whom can the American people turn for information they need? She starts with a survey of the broadcast news business from 1920 to 1985; then examines the opportunities and challenges facing a declining national newspaper in the '80s; and finally traces the Monitor Channel decision, its implementation, and the obstacles and opposition it faced. A media case study with disturbing implications. Mary Carroll

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0765603160
• ISBN 13: 9780765603166
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272