Media Debates: Great Issues for the Digital Age

Dennis (communication and media industries, Fordham U. Graduate School of Business) and Merrill (emeritus, journalism, U. of Missouri) debate each other on a range of questions regarding the relationship of the media to politics, society, and democracy. For each chapter, they provide a neutral summation of prevailing views on the topic at hand and then present contrasting arguments supporting opposite positions. Twenty chapters deal consider such issues as concentration of media ownership, the media's responsibility to serve the public interest, political bias in the media, media treatment of war and terrorism, the impact of advertising as a social force, and the need for diversity. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Booknews In a series of 19 brief exchanges, Dennis (communication and media instruction, Fordhams Graduate School of Business) and Merrill (journalism, University of Missouri, emeritus) debate key issues concerning the media. These include topics like the freedom of the press, the relationship between the media and the government, the concentration of ownership, the right to know, bias, election coverage, public opinion, the Internet, journalistic objectivity, ethics, advertising, public relations, and professionalism. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)