What's News: The Media in American Society - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0917616413 ISBN 13: 9780917616419

Publisher: Routledge, 1981

Synopsis

The twelve thought-provoking essays comprising What's News review recent trends and events that have serious implications for both print and broadcast media in America. These timely studies examine the modern American media in its social, economic, and political context and address issues of current concern regarding the media's approach to and treatment of news. What's News focuses on the growth of the news business as big business and considers the rights of readers and viewers, the accountability of the media to their audience, and recent court decisions on First Amendment cases.

Contents and Contributors: Theodore Peterson, "The Historical Framework"; James Rosse, "The Economic Setting"; Benno Schmidt, "The Media and Government: How Much Constraint to What End?"; Ithiel de Sola Pool, "The New Technologies: Their Promise of Abundant Channels at Lower Cost"; William Porter, "The Media Baronies: Bigger, Fewer, More Powerful"; Edward J. Epstein, "How Media Institutions Process Reality"; William Henry, "News as Entertainment: The Search for Dramatic Unity"; Michael Robinson, "Presidential Elections as TV Drama"; Robert L. Bartley, "The Business of News and the News of Business"; John Hulteng, "The Rights of Readers and Viewers: Avenues of Accountability"; George Comstock, "Social and Cultural Impacts"; Elie Abel, "Conclusion".

About this title

About the Author

Elie Abel (1920-2004) was Chandler Professor of Communications, Stanford University. A former foreign correspondent for The New York Times, diplomatic correspondent for NBC News, and dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia, Abel is the recipient of the George Foster Peabody Award for Outstanding Radio News. He is the author of The Missile Crisis; Roots of Involvement (with Marvin Kalb); and Special Envoy to Churchill and Stalin (with Averell Harriman).

Review

"If the press insists that we have to face the reality of our democratic leadership, warts and all... we also have to face the reality of a passive democratic electorate in a media system geared to covering the dark side of major candidates."

—Michael Jay Robinson

"Ultimately all journalism is patriotism. If reporters can be said to share a religion, it is devotion to making democracy work."

—William A. Henry III

"Feeling badly used... much of the Washington press developed an obsession with official dishonesty. Exposure became a sacred mission."

—Elie Abel

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1981
• ISBN 10: 0917616413
• ISBN 13: 9780917616419
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 300
• Editor: Abel Elie