Killing the messenger : 100 years of media criticism

摘要: Criticism of the press has flourished at times over last one hundred years, especially during first part this century. For a 1920 issue "New Republic," Walter Lippmann and Charles Merz wrote stunning indictment York Times" for botching coverage Russian Revolution. The 1980s have been fallow period cogent criticism, but decade characterized by series upheavals crying fuller scrutiny. Janet Cooke, "Washington Post" reporter, was forced to return Pulitzer Prize fabricated story about an eight-year-old heroin addict; National News Council collapsed; blizzard libel suits covered newspapers, magazines, networks; Gary Hart in his bid presidency examination what should be private or public knowledge. "Killing Messenger" is anthology some most provocative writing that done century press. It seminal collection neglected pieces linked together offer different perspectives on many issues are plaguing today. examines how concentration media ownership denies access public, inadequately police themselves, reporters could better trained, sensationalizes hand censors itself other. Tom Goldstein selected five areas concentration: reporting matters, journalists their biases, power limitations press, making reporters, techniques use portray reality. Some selections taken from books long out print, orfrom official reports. Others come magazines speeches. contributors include Theodore Roosevelt, Joseph Pulitzer, Upton Sinclair, Louis Brandeis, Spiro Agnew, John Hersey. editor provided brief introductions headnotes each section.Tom chosen these articles encourage contemporary look themselves more closely, apply same skepticism they readily heap city councilmen, chiefs, football coaches, movie directors, heads state. According him, not shown much appetite self-analysis crucial time when welcome, recoil from, criticism own performance.