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The Press

Written by: Andy Marken

Article Overview: Book Review -- Geneva Overholser, Kathleen Hall Jamieson; Oxford University Press, 198 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016, www.oup.com/us; ISBN 0195172833; May 2005, 473 pages, $65.

The Press

As with everything in our lives the pendulum is never static. It usually swings too far to the right for a period of time then overcompensates by swinging too far to the left. It seldom spends a lot of time precisely balanced in the middle providing a perfect balance of left/right thinking and action.

We’ve seen this with the dramatic growth of on-line “journalists” or breed that Dan Gillmor helped define in his book We the Media. Dan saw and chronicled the leading edge of many-to-many journalism. The new media approach that he sees isn’t fading but it is gaining a balance as citizen journalists find that their opinion alone doesn’t attract a lot of readers. As a result, they become of no import unless they develop and take a more traditional approach to their journalism in the gathering and dissemination of news and information.

While we found Gillmor’s book entertaining, we found The Press to be more interesting and analytical. The editors – Overholser and Jamieson – have done an excellent job of bringing together a more interesting, more informative and more balanced look at journalism’s past, present and probable future.

There is a discipline in journalism – as in public relations – that an individual isn’t inherently born with. Instead as we are now seeing there are aspects, guidelines and approaches that people have to learn to be efficient and effective. The rush of proclaiming that everyone would soon be a journalist came and went and left a few people who were willing to dig out information of interest to a wide spectrum of readers and present facts as facts and opinion as opinion. The rest settled back into their lives of being active observers and occasional voices.

The Press is a compilation of excellent essays by the country’s leading journalism scholars and professionals. It does an excellent job of bringing together some of the best examinations of the American media’s history, identity, roles and future. Unlike Gillmor who challenged his publisher, Knight-Ridder, the essay authors examine and discuss the much broader pallet of the press and its place in a democracy as well as its relationship with government, business and the public at large.

The great thing about this book is that more than 30 highly respected journalists and educators efficiently and effectively covered the full spectrum of the press and its vital role in explaining and monitoring our democratic way of life. Individually and collectively they examined if citizens are getting the information they need and want. They put journalism under the microscope to examine yesterday’s, today’s and tomorrow’s journalism requirements. They discuss how journalists have the ability and the responsibility to provide a balance between corporate/governmental interests and the public’s interests.

The individual authors show how the advances in technology have helped/forced the news media in general and journalists in specific to change to meet our ever changing needs for clear, concise and objective news coverage. Of considerable interest to us were the essays that examined the changing face of what is and isn’t news for organizations and people who increasingly exist in a globe without borders. The increasingly Internet connected world as several authors point out means that local actions melt away and have international implications.

While select bloggers have received press credentials and been admitted into governmental press conferences and meetings, they are the exception rather than the rule. Web writers and publishers have sought the protection of the First Amendment, the courts have examined the situations on a case-by-case basis to determine if they meet the criteria of legitimate journalists.

Like The Poynter Institute which helps develop better and more professional journalists, The Annenberg Public Policy Center views the freedom of the press as an essential part of American democracy.

We found the series of essays to be very well balanced because the authors didn’t defend the status quo but individually examined the health of the field. In addition many of the individuals gave some very thoughtful recommendations on how the press needed to change to remain current and pertinent to the citizenry and our need to know.

Whether you are a practitioner for for-profit, nonprofit or governmental/institutional organization, the health and balance that sound, healthy journalism provides should be of major concern.

In many ways, American journalism is a lot like our democracy…it isn’t perfect but it is the best of the options we see around the globe. The country’s foundation of checks and balances makes it impossible – over the long haul – for organizations and institutions to really manage and control the media. The old guard and new breed of journalist doesn’t always get it right but they are often some of their most vocal critics.

Several of the authors examined the increasing change from mass media domination to the growing importance and relevance of alternative and minority media. We found this examination both interesting and useful for practitioners involved in consumer and business public relations. These essays are good reminders that while your boss may read and covet coverage in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fortune, Business Week and other “major” media; the alternative and minority press often have a greater impact and influence on our various publics.

We admit we didn’t read The Press from cover to cover but that wasn’t/isn’t necessary. The book delivers what we believe is a very excellent balanced series of discussions on the state of journalism and its future. But what you will find after picking up the book is that one good essay will lead you to another and another.

It is surprising how The Press makes you want to read someone’s thoughts about the history and position of the profession and then seek out another expert’s opinions. As a result, the book draws you in and then moves you from one interesting and thought-provoking essay after another.

Whether you’re to the right or to the left or are a moderate, The Press will not only provide reinforcement to your opinions but will also force you to think about why journalism and free press are important in today’s and tomorrow’s democracy.

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