Microradio & Democracy (Open Media Series) [Paperback]

Greg Ruggiero (Author), Robert W. McChesney (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 4, 1999 | Series: Open Media Series

Microradio and Democracy discusses the role of citizen access to communications in a democratic society, and how diversity, localism, and core political speech are undermined by corporate control of the public airwaves. Ruggiero examines the emergence of microradio activism in recent court cases, and the links between the microradio struggle and larger movements for democracy and social justice. Illustrated with photos and graphics, this book will be of interest to anyone concerned about keeping free speech for communities, not corporations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Microradio & Democracy is a superb analysis of how the media giants and the government have worked together to cripple freedom of speech on the airways by banning small radio stations. It is also an exhilarating account of how the small broadcasters and their supporters are fighting back. -- Howard Zinn

This study provides an illuminating analysis of a crucial component of the ongoing state-corporate assault on meaningful democracy: the effort to control and shape attitudes and beliefs to induce passive acceptance of the dictates of private power. -- Noam Chomsky

About the Author

GREG RUGGIERO is a former senior editor of Seven Stories Press. Ruggiero cofounded the Open Media Series in 1991, and has since published some of the most outspoken scholars, social justice advocates, and dissidents of our time, including Angela Y. Davis, Allen Ginsberg, Alice Walker, Noam Chomsky, Howard Zinn, Ralph Nader, Arundhati Roy and Subcomandante Marcos. He currently works for City Lights, the legendary San Franciso-based publisher.

Product Details

• Paperback: 64 pages
• Publisher: Seven Stories Press; A Seven Stories Press 1st ed edition (May 4, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583220003
• ISBN-13: 978-1583220009
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.2 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,368,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #48 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Social Sciences > Media Studies
  • #54 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Nonfiction > Politics > Practical Politics
  • #58 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Entertainment > Television

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A bit dated but still good stuff, September 16, 2004

By 

Professional Strong Man (Selinsgrove, PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Microradio & Democracy (Open Media Series) (Paperback)

For those interested in the welfare of the first, best and most-potentially democratic form of the electronic mass media (I'm speaking of radio of course) then this is a great book to add to your collection. If you are new to the issues facing LPFM and radio in general, this is a great place to start. Ruggiero does a great job of presenting the LPFM case, the roadblocks it faces and in a neat twist, tells us what we can do to help change things. Of course, you can only go so deep in 63 pamphlet-sized pages, but the book is definitely a good first step. For anyone who wants to dive in deeper, check out Chomsky, McChesney, Bettig or Jhally, just to name a few.

On the down side, the book is a bit dated in its description of the LPFM movement, but that shouldn't be held against it. The biggest problem I have with the book is the number of typos - I mean come on - if you want people to take your message seriously you should do a better job of proofreading. But if you are not so narrow-minded that you can't get past it, then the book is solid.

For me, the message is more important than picking at the mistakes. Radio has the unique power - over TV, computers, the internet - to be the world's best democratic force in terms of dissemination of messages, cost and portability. If the day comes where anyone can go to the drugstore, buy a *computer* for under five bucks, get free access to the outside world, and not get a hernia from carrying it around, then radio may have to hang it up. Since that won't happen anytime soon however, radio is still the way to go. Its just a shame that there is a need for the LPFM movement to exist, given the current dearth of truly public programming on the radio.

Anyone who wishes to debate this issue, feel free to email me - I need to sharpen my teeth a bit :)

Viva la radio! Power to the people!