American Television News: The Media Marketplace and the Public Interest (Paperback)

~ Steve M. Barkin (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

This concise history of the news broadcasting industry will appeal to both students and general readers. Stretching from the "radio days" of the 1920s and 1930s and the early era of television after World War II through to the present, the book shows how commercial interests, regulatory matters, and financial considerations have long shaped the broadcasting business. The network dominance of the 1950s ushered in the new prominence of the "anchorman," a distinctly American development, and gave birth to the "golden age" of TV broadcasting, which featured hard-hitting news and documentaries epitomized by the reports by CBS's Edward R. Murrow. Financial pressures and advertising concerns in the 1960s led the networks to veer away from their commitment to serve the public interest, and "tabloid" television - celebrity, gossip-driven "soft news" - and news "magazines" became increasingly widespread. In the 1980s cable news further transformed broadcasting, igniting intense competition for viewers in the media marketplace. Focusing on both national and local news, this stimulating volume examines the evolution of broadcast journalism. It also considers how new electronic technologies will affect news delivery in the 21st century, and whether television news can still both serve the public interest and maintain an audience.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: M.E. Sharpe (December 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765609231
• ISBN-13: 978-0765609236
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #895,685 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Important Read, April 24, 2003

By	"jrara" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

As good as a book you will read on the history of television in this country. The author does a great job in tracing where television started and where it is today. For anyone who is interested in reading about the decline in the way we get our news I highly recommend this book.