Academic Postman ( Amusing Ourselves to Death ) and television newsman Powers (of Fox Five in New York) offer a brief, helpful analysis of America's most popular news source. In a sober but accessible style, the authors address theoretical issues, such as the difficulty of portraying nonvisual abstractions (for example, a new scientific theory) on televison, and describe the selling of the news through techniques such as the ``tease'' and the formation of an on-air ``pseudo-family.'' They reveal how stories originate--often from newspapers and press releases--and show how difficult it is for harried reporters to provide substantive news. The most provocative chapter analyzes the inherent biases and limitations in both language and pictures. The authors conclude with several none-too-radical pieces of advice, including the suggestion that parents seek ways to have schools train children in watching TV news. Regrettably, the authors don't discuss the role of TV criticism or what television news does well. Further, the book would have been much richer if Powers had included anecdotes from his career and reflected from his own experience on in-house decision-making. (Sept.)
America is suffering from an information glut. Most Americans are no longer clear about what news is worth remembering or how any of it connects to anything else. Thus, Americans are rapidly becoming the least knowledgeable people in the industrial world.
In How to Watch TV News, author and academic Neil Postman and television journalist Steve Powers show how you can become a discerning viewer. They show the difference between entertainment fodder and genuine news, pointing to the symbiotic relationship between TV news and advertising. They explain why TV news has become a “cash cow,” and stress that anyone who relies exclusively on TV for his or her knowledge of the world is making a serious mistake.
America is suffering from an information glut. Most Americans are no longer clear about what news is worth remembering or how any of it connects to anything else. Thus, Americans are rapidly becoming the least knowledgeable people in the industrial world.
In How to Watch TV News, author and academic Neil Postman and television journalist Steve Powers show how you can become a discerning viewer. They show the difference between entertainment fodder and genuine news, pointing to the symbiotic relationship between TV news and advertising. They explain why TV news has become a “cash cow,” and stress that anyone who relies exclusively on TV for his or her knowledge of the world is making a serious mistake.
How to Watch TV News
How to Watch TV News
Editorial Reviews
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940169663792 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Blackstone Audio, Inc. |
| Publication date: | 01/01/2007 |
| Edition description: | Unabridged |
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