Dr. Mc's Reading List....

---

This is a list of books recommended for reading in my classes. While students are not limited to the books on this list, it is hoped that it will provide a productive place to start. Feel free to recommend books which you think should be added to the list.

To see some the books I have been reading over the past few months, check out the What I've Been Reading page. There you'll find titles, descriptions and comments on not only the professional books I enjoy, but some of the fun stuff as well. There are also references to books I found helpful concerning family life, ADD, and spiritual issues.

In the last couple of years, I have asked students to submit their comments about the books they have been reading. The thought was that students looking for a book might appreciate knowing what other students thought about the books they were considering. So if you're interested go to the Student Review Page!

Happy Reading!!

• Anderegg, Michael. Inventing Vietnam: The War in Film & Television. (Com 316)
• Arlen, Michael J. The Living Room War.
• Auletta, Three Blind Mice: How the TV Networks Lost Their Way. Vintage Books (New York: 1992) ISBN 0-679-74135-6 (Excellent for 316, 310 and most other courses. This book deals with the takeover of the TV Nets by non-broadcasting companies.)
• Bagdikian, Ben. The Media Monopoly 5th Ed. Beacon Press: Boston, 1977. (310, 314, 316) This book is written by the foremost authority on media concentration, and while several big deals have happened since it was written, the ideas and perspective in this book are essential reading for any serious student in our field.
• Baker, William. Down the Tube: The Failure of American Television. 1998 ( I haven't seen this one yet, but saw an interview the author, GM of WNET. He said that TV had only one measure -- the bottom line -- and would air "nude bowling" if that would make money. I hope someone finds this book and reads it; I'd love to hear what you think.
• Ball, Rick, R. Ball, NBC News, T. Russert. Meet the Press: 50 Years of Making History in the Making. (Com 315, 340, TV Apprec. , Pol and Media.)
• Bennett, William J. The Death of Outrage: Bill Clinton and the Assault on American Ideals. Free Press: New York, 1998. Whatever your political persuasion, this book offers a perspective that is valuable food for thought. (Com 450:Politics and Media; Com 310)
• Benny, Jack and Joan Benny. Sunday Nights at Seven: The Jack Benny Story. Warner Books (New York: 1990) ISBN 0-446-51546-9 Collier (Excellent for Com 316, TV Apprec.)
• Bernstien, Richard. Dictatorship of Virtue: Multiculturalism and the Battle for America's Future. Alfred A. Knopt: New York, 1994.
• Biagi, Shirley and Marilyn Kern-Foxworth. Facing Difference: Race, Gender and Media. Pine Forge Press: Thousand Oaks, CA, 1997. ISBN 0-8039-9094-4
• Gwenda Blair, Almost Golden (paper) Avon, 1988, ISBN 0-380-70752-7 (Com 316, 380, 240) Excellent book about the life of Jessica Savitch and how her career developed and how it nearly destroyed her. Must read for any BJ student, and a favorite of students for several years. One of my favorites. I think this book can show students what NOT to do in the industry as well as what works.
• Blitz, Stanley. Bandstand: The Untold Story. (Com 316, TV Apprec.)
• Boddie, William. Fifties Television: The Industry and Its Critics(Com 316, TV Apprec.)
• Bork, Robert H. Slouching for Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline. Regan Books:New York, 1996. ISBN 0-06-039163-4 (Must read any one concerned about the ethical condition of our media and our culture!!! One of my MOST favorites!)
• Blair, Glenda. Almost Golden: The Jessica Savitch Story.
• Boyer, Peter. Who Killed CBS(paper) St. Martin's Press, 1989, ISBN 0-312- 91531-4 (Com 240, Com 314, Com 316) Excellent book about how the "bottom-liners" took over television news and how that changed the news we receive. Focuses on the changes in the CBS news department after Walter Cronkite retired.. While it may seem a little dated and be filled with some names you don't remember, students consistently find this book readable, enjoyable and particularly enlightening about the network news, how it was and how it is now - and why.
• Braverman, Jordan. To Hasten the Homecoming: How Americans Fought World War II through the Media. Madison Books: New York, 1996. ISBN 1-56833-047-2. Com 316. Students who read this book really loved it. They suggested it for reading for Com 314, 310 and Persuasion. You might read this and then discuss it with someone who lived through the war.....
• Brinkley, David. David Brinkley: A Memoir Knopf, 1991 ISBN: 0-679-40693-x (Com 240, 310, 316, TV Apprec.) Interesting, easy to read, witty and very insightful look into the career and life of one of the great television newsmen of all time.
• Bryant, Jennings and Dolf Zillman. Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Reseach. Lawrence Erlbaum: Hillsdale, NJ 1994.
• Bryant, Jennings and Dolf Zillman. Responding to the Screen: Reception and Reaction Process. Hillsdale, NJ: LEA, 1991.
• Burns, George. All My Best Friends. Putnam (New York:1989) ISBN 0-399- 13483-2 (Com 316, TV Apprec.)
• Cader, Michael, ed. Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years.(Com 340, TV Apprec.)
• Carterm Stephen. Civility, Manners, Morals and the Etiquette of Democracy. Basic Books, 1998. Com 310. This author believes that manners and civility are necessary for the continuation of democracy. Interesting thesis......
• Chaisson, Lloyd. Jr. The Press in Times of Crisis. Praeger: Westport, CN, 1995 ISBN 0-275-95340-8
• Chaisson, Lloyd. The Press on Trial: Crimes and Trials as Media Events. Greenwood: Westport, CN 1997. If you're interested in the impact of the O.J. Simpson trial on American justice, you might like this book which covers media coverage of key trials all the way back to the trial of John Peter Zenger. It will give you an broader perspective about the whole issue, a perspective which might be especially valuable in light of current events.
• Cloud, Stanley and Lynne Olson. The Murrow Boys: Pioneers on the Front Lines of Broadcast Journalism. Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 1996. ISBN 0-395-87753-9. Com 316. Students loved this book. It examines the life of Murrow and those who worked with him as they pioneered broadcast journalism. A must read for any BJ major. Com 316, 310, 380, 480-TV Appreciation.It's a little long, but those who read it said it was worth it and it was a quick read..
• Collins, Ronald K.L. and David M. Skover. The Death of Discourse.(Westview Press:Boulder, CO, 1996) ISBN 0-8133-2723-7 (Com 310, 314, 400) This is an absolutely outstanding book, especially for Com 400. You will understand the implications of First Amendment Issues and the role of new media in the processes involved. This is not a hard read but it is a brain-expander. Check out the complete review with the link above.
• Colson, Charles and Nancy Peacey. How Now Shall We Live? Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1999.
• Cook, Timothy E. Governing the News: The News Media As A Political Institution. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1998.
• Craft, Christine. Too Old, Too Ugly, and Not Deferential To Men: An Anchor Woman's Couragous Battle Against Sex Discrimination. Prima Publishing (Rockland, CA: 1988) . ISBN 0-91429-65-4 (Com 380, 310, 400) This is a great book which offers an inside look at the workings of local television news and some of the pressures and choices which need to be made. There was great controversy about Ms. Craft and her suit against her television station when they fired her for not changing her appearance and her demeanor on air.
• Creech, Kenneth C. Electronic Media Law, 2^nd ed. Focal Press: Boston, 1996 This book offers valuable information about electronic media but does not contain information about the T-Com act of 1996, and so is dated. But is does offer good historical perspective.
• Curry, Ivan. Directing and Producing for Television: A Format Approach. Focal: Boston, 1998. ISBN 2-40-80281 Concise, readable and very practical from one who's been there.
• Chused, Richard H. A Copyright Anthology: The Technology Frontier. Anderson Publishing Co.: Cincinati, 1998. ISBN 0-97-94-190-4. This is a very thorough book on the issues of copyright. Written for lawyers, but understandable and well structured.
• Dates, Jannette and William Barlow. Split Image: African Americans in the Mass Media. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Howard University Press, 1993.
• David, Marc and Robert Thompson. Prime Time, Prime Movers: From I Love Lucy to L.A. Law-America's Greatest TV Shows and the People Who Created Them.(Com 316, 340, TV Apprec.) This is an insightful look into the people who produce the shows we watch: their backgrounds, agendas and products.
• Davis, Richard. The Web of Politics: The Internet's Impact on the American Political System. New York: Oxford, 1999 (Politics and Media, 310, 316, 314)
• Dennis, Everett E. and John C. Merrill  Media Debates: Issues in Communication. 2nd. ed. Longman Publishers: White Plains, NY, 1996 ISBN: 0-813-1739-8 (Com 314, Com 316, Com 400, Com 480 Pol & Media) Interesting and thorough book about the Presidential debates. If you are interested in political science or reporting on government or politics, you should read this one some time.
• Dickerson, Nancy. Among those Present.  Autobiography of one of the first women in broadcast journalism.
• Dmytryk, Edward. It's A Hell of A Life But Not A Bad Living: A Hollywood Memoir. New York Times Books: New York, 1978. No longer in print, but available in libraries, this book is the account of one of Hollywood's great directors who became a victim of the black list. I was Mr. Dmytryk's teaching assistant while I worked on my Ph.D. at the University of Texas. He is an interesting man, and his book offers a unique and valuable perspective on the black list and its effects on human lives.
• Dunham, Corydon B. Fighting for the First Amendment: Stanton of CBS vs. Congress and the Nixon White House. Praeger: Westport, CN: 1997. ISBN:0-275-96027-7.
• Eisenberg, Harry. Jeopardy! : A Revealing Look Inside.
• Fallows, James. Breaking the News Random House, 1996 ISBN 0-679-75876-x. This is an excellent, excellent book on the news industry. A must-read for any serious media student or PR major.
• Farber, Daniel A. The First Amendment. Foundation Press: New York, 1998. 1-5662-611-0.This book provides a clear and concise guide to the First Amendment. Good support for Com 400.
• Fineman, Martha A. and Martha T. McClusky. Feminism, Media and the Law. New York: Oxford, 1997. ISBN 0-19-509629-0. An excellent collection of work on the issues of women, the law and the media. While written at the graduate level, undergraduates interested in the subject matter should have no trouble getting through this, although it will take a little time. I say "go for it!" Com 310, 400, 340.
• Fiske, John. Reading TV. Excellent book on television Discourse. (Com 340)
• Foerstel, Herbert. Banned in the Media. A Reference Guide to Censorship in the PRess, Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Internet. Greenwood Press: 1998.
• Friendly, Fred. Due to Circumstances Beyond our Control. 1999.
• Fuller, Jack. News Values: Ideas in An Information Age. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 1996. ISBN 0-226-26880-2. Com 450 Politics and Media; Com 310. Outstanding Book, required reading in 450. Insightful look at how and why news media operate the way they do.
• Garner, Joe. We Interrupt this Broadcast: The Actual Broadcasts of the Events that Stopped Our Lives. Sourcebooks, Inc.: 1998. ISBN: 15700713286 This is a terrific book for your reference library. It includes a CD-ROM with recordings of the actual reports.
• Garland, Timothy. Writing for Multimedia: Entertainment, Education, Training, Advertising, Wordwide Web. Focal Press: Boston, 1997.
• Garvey, John H. What are Freedoms For? Cambridge, MA: Harvard, 1996. (Com 400) An interesting examination of the very nature of freedom.....
• Gershenfeld, Neil. When Things Start to Think. New York: Holt, 1999.
• Gordon, A. David, John Kittross and Carol Reuss. Controversies in Media Ethics. Longman ISBN 0-8013-3025-4
• Gough, Russell. Character is Destiny: The Value of Personal Ethics in Everyday Life. Rockland, CA: Forum, 1998.
• Grossman, Dave and Gloria Degaetano. Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence. New York: Crown, 1999.
• Keim, Curtis. Mistaking Africa: Curiosities and Inventions of the American Mind. Boulder, CO: Westview Press, 1999 (This book is a good look at how media influence our perceptions of the world. Great for Com 314, 310 or 316)
• Kieran, Matthew. Media Ethics: A Philosophical Approach. Westport, CN: Preaeger, 1997.
• Hart, Roderick. Seducing America: How Television Charms the Modern Voter, Revised Ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 1998.
• Heaton, J. and N. Wilson. Tuning in Trouble. Jossey-Bass 1995 0-7879- 0106-7 (Com 310, Com 314) Excellent book which will probably make you mad. Written by a psychologist who examines the impact of talk shows on the culture and specifically those guests who are exploited by them. Window into the how the programs operate and how they are produced. This book will make you think and may change the way you look at talk shows.
• Herman, Edward S. and Noam Chomsky. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media.   New York: Pantheon, 1988.
• Herweg, Godfrey W. and Ashely Page Herweg. FUTURE SELL: Radio's Nich Marketing Revolution. Focal Press: Boston, 1997. ISBN 0-240-80202.
• Hinds, Lynn Boyd. Broadcasting the Local News: The Early Years of Pittsurgh's KDKA-TV. (Com 316, Com 480-2 TV Apprec)
• Hill, Annette. Natural Born Killer: Risk and Media Violence. University of Luton Press, 1999.
• Hill, Annette, Shocking Entertainment: Viewer Responses to Violent Movies. University of Luton Press, 1999.
• Huxley, A. Brave New World. (For extra credit review only, please.) This excellent book may have been required reading in high school, but you may want to read it again. It is especially applicable to our discussions of free expression and truth in Com 310 and Com 400.
• Jackson, John. American Bandstand: Dick Clark and the Making of A Rock and Roll Empire. (BN) (Com 316, TV Apprec.)
• Jansen, Sue Curry. Censorship: The Knot that Binds Power and Knowledge. Oxford: New York, 1991.
• Jeffries, Leo. Mass Media Effects, 2nd ed. New York: Longman, 1997
• Jones, Gerard. Honey, I'm Home: Sitcoms, Selling the American Dream.(Com 314, 316, TV Apprec.)
• Kerbel, Matthew. Remote and Controlled: Media Politics in a Cynical Age. Westerview Press: Boulder CO, 1998 ISBN 0-8133-6869
• Kisseloff, Jeff. The Box: An Oral History of Television, 1920-1961. New York: Viking, 1995. (This is an outstanding book of first-person accounts of the development of television. Some of it is surprising, some is hilarious, some is sobering, but it all is facinating. Don't let the size bother you. It's a MUST read for any serious student and it's a page-turner. You'll love it.) Com 316, TV Appreciation.
• Knowlton, Steven R., and Patrick R. Parsons. The Journalist's Moral Compass: Basic Principles. Praeger: Westport CN, 1995. ISBN 0-275-95153-7.
• Knowlton, Steven R. Moral Reasoning for Journalists: Cases and Commentary. Praeger: Westport, CN, 1997. ISBN 0-275-94872-2.
• Koppel, Ted and Gibson, Lyle. Nightling: History inthe Making and the Making of Television. 1995 Random 0-8129-2478-9 Time Books. Random. (Com 240, 316, 380, TV Apprec.) Background and development of NIGHTLINE. Interesting.
• Kutz. Howard. Spin Cycle: Inside the Clinton Propaganda Machine. New York: Free Press, 1998.
• Laura Lederer and Richard Delgado, eds. The Price We Pay: The Case Against Racist Speech, Hate Propaganda, and Pornography. Hill and Wang: New York, 1995. ISBN 0-8090-1588-3
• Levine, Kevin. It's Gone!....No Wait A Minute..... (A good book for sports broadcasters)
• Lewis, Tom. Empire of the Air. (paper) Harper Collins, 1991 ISBN 0-06- 18215-6 (Com 316) Foundational source for Com 316 lectures on the history of broadcasting. Interesting, human, easy to read. Provides some valuable insights into human character and what success really means. This one should be on every serious electronic media professional's books shelf.
• Lichter, S. Robert; Stanley Rothman, Linda S. Lichter. Prime Time: How TV Portrays American Culture. (Com 316, 310) Excellent. Looks at TV portrayals compared to what American culture is really like.
• MacBeth, Tannis. Tuning into Young Viewers: Social Science Perspectives on Television. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 1996.
• MacKinnon, Catharine A. and Andrea Dworkin. In Harm's Way: The Pornography Civil Rights Hearings. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1997. 310, 400. Brace yourself if you choose this one. It includes first-person testimony about the impact of pornography on communities and on individuals. Some of it will make you sick; some will make you cry. You will never look at the issue of pornography in the same way."
• Mair, George. The Barry Diller Story: The Life and Times of America's Greatest Entertainment Mogul. Wyle and Sons: New York: 1996. (Com 316, Com 310)
• Marshall, Gary. Wake Me When It's Funny. Adams, 1995. ISBN 1-55850-526-1 (Com 316, TV Apprec.) Funny book about the creator of Happy Days, etc. Inside look at television production/programming. Language can be strong at times.
• Mazda, Fraidoon, ed. Principles of Radio Communication. Focal Pocket Guides: Oxford, 1996. ISBN: 0-240-51457-2. This has all the technical information you might ever want to know about radio propagation. If your interest is radio, this is material you should know or at least have at your fingertips. Excellent reference for anyone in the radio business. Com 240, 316, 380.
• Marshall, Peter and David Manuell. The Light and the Glory. Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1973. (See note below)
• Marshall, Peter and David Manuell. From Sea to Shining SeaOld Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Co., 1986. Both of these books are historical accounts of the making and development of this country. They are different than the history books assigned in most high school and college courses because these include spiritual and philosphical beliefs and motivations of the people involved. I was an undergraduate history major, but I was shocked and moved as I read The Light and the Glory for the first time. I was like someone had lifted a window shade, and I saw clearly for the first time. As a student of history, I can vouch for the dependence on first-person sources and the historical research involved.. These books offer, as Paul Harvey might say, "...the REST of the story." For the ethics student interested in issues of truth and right and wrong and how those concepts shaped our nation and its laws, these books are illuminating and interesting. They also shed light on the move from traditionalism to modernism in the world view of our country and how the seeds of that change began immediately after the revolution! The Christian student will find them particularly enlightening. These are two of my most favorite books and two that changed my perceptions singificantly. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. Com 310, Com 400.
• Mazzocco, Dennis. Networks of Power: Corporate TV's Threat to Democracy. (Com 310, 316, 400) Thought provoking book about media monopoly and corporate take over in broadcasting. Students have commented very favorably about this book.
• Medved, Michael. Hollywood VS America: Popular Culture and the War on Traditional Values. (Com 310, Com 314) Excellent book and one that students have really enjoyed. While is it becoming slightly dated, it still has great value for those considering why media content is as it is. Students who have read this book found it shocking and revealing. They have said it opened their eyes about things they should have noticed on their own. Some even said it should be required for Com 310.
• McClain, Paula D. and Joseph Stewart Jr. "Can We All Get Along?" Racial and Ethnic Minorities in American Politics. 2^nd ed. Westview press: Boulder, CO 1998 0-8133-9994-7
• McDowell, Josh. Right and Wrong. 1996. Com 310. This book has received rave reviews from more than a dozen students, some saying it should be required reading from Com 310. Because of it's Christian perspective, I have elected not to do that, but it does a highly effective job of discussing the issues of right and wrong in very practical terms. It also approaches the issue from the perspectives of parents and young adults...Some examples...Obey the law, but use a "fuzz buster." Don't lie but "tell them I'm not here..." Excellent content and quick and easy to read. Keep this one if you buy it; you'll refer to it again and again.
• McDowell, Josh and Bob Hostetler. The New Tolerance: How a Cultural Movement Threatens to Destroy You, Your Faith and Your Children. Tyndale House: Wheaten, Ill, 1998. This book has a distinctly Christian perspective, but if offers an insightful look at the issue of values and morality in current society bu examining the issue of tolerance. ADDITIONAL NOTE: I have been reading this one over break and it is outstanding! It offers the best explanation of the traditionalism-modernism-postmoderism progression of cultural thought and what each of these world views do to impact our society. Very readable, very practical. It will really help you understand the concepts we'll be discussing in 310 and 400 and later in my 450. Strongly encouraged!!!! (It's also not that long...)
• McGinnis, Joe. The Selling of the President. (Com 310, 314, 316, 380 , Politics and Media) This is a classic in the field. A must read for any aspiring political reporter or media consultant.
• Medved, Michael. Hollywood v. America. This is an excellent book and an eye-opener. Recommended especially for Com 310. Medved shows how media representations of life differ radically from reality and how those depictions demonstrate particular bias and world view. As a film critic for many years, he offers very specific examples to demonstrate stereotypic depictions of politicians, businesspeople, people of faith, traditional family life and others. While, it's a little dated, the information and message are still timely.
• Medved, Michael and Diane Medved, Ph.D. Saving Childhood: Protecting Our Chidren from the National Assualt on Innocence. New York: Harper Perennial, 1998.
• Meyer, Timothy P. and James A. Anderson. Mediated Communication: A Social Action Perspective. Sage: Newbury Park, 1988. This book is the foundational work for my Mass Com Theory Course, and those students who elect to read it report it makes a huge difference in their work in the course. While it is written on the graduate level and the language takes some getting used to for some undergraduates, challenge is good and the ideas here are even better. Go for it! Expand your mind and your vocabulary and probably your grade in Com 314. If you can find a used copy of this one, grab it! Library copies are limited.
• Mickleson, Sig. The Decade That Shaped Television News" CBS in the 1950s. Westview, CN: Praeger, 1998.
• Mitchell, Michelle. A New Kind of Party Animal: How the Young Are Tearing Up the American Political Landscape. Simon and Schuster: New York, 1998. (Com 450 Politics and Media, Com 310) While I haven't read this one myself, it comes highly recommended by several of my Politics and Media students. It offers and encouraging perspective and an inside look at how the system works.
• Montgomery, Katheryn. Target Prime Time: Advocacy Groups and the Struggle over Entertainment Television. Oxford: __________, _____ isbn: 0-312-13899-7
• Mumford, Laura Stempel. Love and Ideology in the Afternoon: Soap Opera, Women and Television Genre. (Com 340, TV Apprec.)
• Naureckas, Jim, and Janine Jackson. The Fair Reader: An EXTRA! Review of Press and Politics in the 90's. Critical Studies in Communican and in the Cultural Industries. Westview Press: 1996
• Neil, Richard. Taking on Donahue & TV Morality: AN Ordinary Father Who Became and Unlikely Champion. (Com 310) About the dentist whose complaint began the demise of Donahue.
• Noebel, David A. Understanding the Times: The Religious Worldviews of Our Day and the Search for Truth. Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House, 1997. This is an outstanding resource for students in all disciplines. It examines the primary world views and then makes application of each philosophy to specific areas of study: politics, laws, sociology, ethics, economics, history, biology, etc. If what you believe has ever come in conflict with what you are taught in an academic classroom, this book offers information to help you sort it out and establish your own response. It should be required reading for every Christian college student, but who's going to require it? ISBN: 9-781565-072588. It can be ordered through Summit Ministries. Their web site in linked from my Truth and World View page.
• Orwell, George. 1984. You may have already read this one in high school, and if so, it might deserve as second read. It is particularly applicable to 310 and 400 as we explore the issues of truth and free expression. Note: Extra Credit book review only, please.
• Patterson, Thomas E. Out of Order. Vintage: New York, 1994, ISBN: 0-679-75510-1 . Com 450 Politics and Media; Com 310. This is an absolutely outstanding look at media and politics in this country. It's out of print, so if you find a copy anywhere for sale (at a discount) I'll reimburse you and we'll put it in the library.
• Pereti, Frank. The Prophet. This is a novel about a television anchor faced with serious moral choices. The novel has a Christian perspective but provides a good view of the workings of a news room and the pressures involved there. (Com 310)
• Postman, Neil. Amusing Ourselves to Death. Penguin, 1986.
• Postman, Neil. The Disappearance of Childhood. Vintage: Isbn: 0-679-75166-1
• Potter, W. James. Media Literacy. Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA 1998. (Com 314, Com 310, Com 340) This book pulls concepts from all three of these classes together.
• Rather, Dan. The Camera Never Blinks. This is the first autobiography of Dan Rather and tells how he got into the TV news business. It's an interesting and informative book. While out of print at this time, you might be able to find it in a public library and there should be a copy in Collier.
• Rather, Dan. The Camera Never Blinks Twice. 1994 0-688-09748-0 Morrow (Com 316, Com 310, Com 380, TV Apprec.)
• Richards, Thomas. The Meaning of Star Trek.(Com 340)
• Rogers, Evertt M. A History of Communication Study: A Biographical Approach. The Free Press: New York 1997. ISBN 0-684-84001-4
• Roman, James. Love, Light and Dream: Television's Past, Present and Future. Praeger: Westport, CN, 1998. ISBN 0-275-96437-x. This is a good history of television which brings the historical context in line with current issues. Com 316, Com 310 (especially for non-RTF majors)
• Rose, Tom. Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Biggest Non-Event. (Com 310, 314, 316) This is one of my favorite books! It's surprising, funny and very revealing about television news, agenda setting and those whales trapped by ice in the Artic.
• Rosteck.  See It Now Confronts McCarthyism: Television Documentary and the Politics of Representation.(Com 316, TV Apprec.; Politics and Media)
• Sabato, Larry J. Feeding Frenzy: How Attack Journalism Has Transformed American Politics. Free Press: New York, 1993. (Com 310, 316, 450 Politics and Media) This book received a lot of publicity when the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal broke, and Mr. Sabato was interviewed on a number of news programs. It is a fascinating account of media accounts of scandals and how and why the frenzy occurs. This is an absolute must read for anyone interested in broadcast journalism or political coverage. It's a good read and the 1998 Politics and Media students who read it really liked it. I'm looking for a new edition to come out before long.
• Sackett, Susan. Prime Time Hits: Television's Most Popular Network Programs, 1950 to the Present. Required for TV Apprec.
• Safer, Morley, Flashbacks: On Returning to Vietnam. Random House: New York, 1990 (Com 316, Com 310, Com 380, TV Apprec.) Excellent book about news and reporting during the Viet Nam War. Students have enjoyed this one a lot.
• Salzman, Jason. Making the News: A Guide for Non-Profit Activists. Westview: Boulder, CO, 1998. ISBN 0-8333-6898-7. I haven't had a chance to read this one yet, but it looks really good. It covers a lot of things we discuss in Com 340, 310 and persuasion. It would also be an excellent choice of for PR majors because it deals with how to get on the media agenda.
• Sanders, Barry. A is for OX: The Collapse of Literacy and the Rise of Violence in an Electronic Age. Vintage Books (New York:1994) ISBN 0-679-74285-9 (Com 310, 314, 400)
• Shingler, Martin and Cindy Wieringa. On Air: Methods and Meanings of Radio. Arnold: New York, 1998. Interest book. Applicable for Com 380, 310, 314
• Sivulka, Juliann. Soap, Sex and Cigarettes. 1998. Wadsworth: Belmont, CA. (Com 314, Com 316, Com 310, Com 340, Com 480-TV Appreciation.) I read this one last summer and loved it. It includes fascinating stories about how some of our stand-by products came into being and how they were sold to the American public. One of the more interesting was how toilet paper was marketed for the first time!!! This book also offers an interesting look at our culture and our values.....A thoroughly interesting read.
• Slayden, David and Rita Whillock, eds. Soundbite Cutlure: The Death of Discourse in a Wired World. Thousand Oaks: Sage, 1998.
• Smith, Perry. How CNN Fought the War: A View From the Inside. paper 12.95 ISBN 1-55972-090-5 Birch Ln. Pr. (Com 316, Com 310, Com 380, TV Apprec.) Students have read and enjoyed this one too. Very interesting perspective on reporting of the Gulf War.
• Smith, Sally Bedell. In All His Glory: The Life of William S. Paley. New York: Random House, 1990. Excellent account of Paley's life. It's long, but it's interesting. Paley is the missing man from Empire of the Air. If you liked that, you'll probably like this one.
• Smith, Jeffery A. War and Press Freedom: The Problem of Prerogative Power. New York: Oxford, 1999.
• Solow, Herbert F. and Robert H. Justman. Inside Star Trek: The Real Story. Pocket Books: New York, 1996. This is a great look inside the production of a television series. Unlike Steven Whitefield's Making of Star Trek, this one offers an unglamorized view of the creation and production of the show. As a long-time trekker, I was somewhat shocked and very disappointed in the behavior of some of the folks involved, but the book is an excellent account of the production processes. This isn't a malicious tell-all book, but rather a pretty straightforward telling of the development and production of the original series. (Com 340 , 316 and Com 480-TV Appreciation)
• Stahl, Leslie. Reporting Live. New York: Touchstone, 1999.
• Stark, Steven. Glued to the Set: The 60 Television Shows and Events that Made us Who We Are Today. Free Press: New York, 1998. This is an outstanding book which provides information on the key shows as well as a discussion of their impact on the culture. Absolutely MUST reading for any RTF major. Required reading in Com 340. Extra credit reading in any course (as long as you have NOT had Com 340).
• Starker, Steven. Evil Influences: Crusades Against Mass Media. New Brusnwick: Transaction Publishers, 1991. Com 340, 310. This is an excellent book recounting the history of criticisms against media. You may not have realized that some of the novels you are required to read in your lit courses were feared to be corrupters of the society. Nor may you know the hazards of radio, comic books and even newspapers themselves. Facinating account. ISBN 0-88738-275-4.
• Stemple, Tom. Storytellers to the Nation: A History of American Television Writing. (Com 316, 340, TV Apprec.)
• Stone, Joseph. Prime Time and Misdemeanors: Investing in the 1950's TV Quiz Scandal - A D.A.'s Account. (Com 316, TV Apprec.)
• Stevens, Mitchell. The Rise of the Image and Fall of the World. New York: Oxford, 1998.
• Surette, Ray. Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice Images and Realities. 2^nd ed. West/Wadsworth: Belmont, CA 1997
• Tedford, Thomas L. Freedom of Speech in the United States. 3^rd ed. Strata Publishing.State College, PA. 1997. ISBN 0-963489-5-1. Com 400
• Ten Boom, Corrie. The Hiding Place. (Com 310) If you were not required to read this book in highschool, you should read it now. While it has a distinctly Christian perspective, this powerful book is about choices, very difficult choices. What would you do under similar circumstances? It's a quick read and very difficult to put down.
• Thomas, Helen. Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times. New York: Scribbner, 1999.
• Trager, Robert, and Donna Dickerson. Freedom of Expression in the 21st Century. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press, 1999.
• Trotta, Liz. Fighting for Air: In the Trenches with Television News. ISBN 0-8262-0952 U of Montana Press. (Com 316, Com 310, Com 380, TV Apprec.) Story of the first woman television war correspondent in Viet Nam. I saw her reports and was very much amazed by her grit and her courage. This one has been a favorite of women BJ students.
• Udelson, Joseph H. The Great Television Race: A History of the Television Industry1925-1941. (Com 316; TV Apprec.)
• Vandeberg, Leah, Lawrence A. Wenner, and Bruce E Gronbeck. Critical Approaches to Television. Houghton Mifflin: Boston, 1998 ISBN 0-395-76641-9
• Vam Evra, Judith. Television and Child Development. 2nd ed. Mahwah, NY: LEA, 1998 (Com 310, 314, 316, and possibly 400)
• Van Tassel, Joan M. Advanced Television Systems: Brave New TV. Focal: Boston, 1996. This book recounts the history of the development of HDTV While it's a couple of years old, it will offer a good basic foundation for the student to the understanding of digital television. ISBN 0-240-80243-8
• Watson, Mary Ann. The Expanding Vista: American Television in the Kennedy Years. (Com 316, TV Apprec.; Media and Politics)
• Thomas, Helen. Front Row at the White House: My Life and Times. New York: Scribbner, 1999.
• Trager, Robert, and Donna Dickerson. Freedom of Expression in the 21st Century. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press, 1999.
• Wilson, Theo. Headline Justice: Inside the Courtroom–The Country's Most Controversial Trials. New York: Thunders Mouth Press, 1996. (This book is written by a woman reputed to be one of the best trial reporters in journalism. It covers some of the most famous trials of the 1950s through the 1980s, including the Sam Sheppard trial. The book focuses on how the reporting was done and how newspapers were different in that era. Good choice for Journalism and BJ majors, especially for Com 310)
• Winch, Samuel P. Mapping the Cultural Space of Journalism: How Journalist Distingquich News from Entertainment. Westport, CN: Preager, 1997. This is an interesting look at how world views clash in the definition of journalism. Interesting reading for Com 310 or Politics in Media. Good for any BJ major.
• Witte Jr., John. Religion and The American Constitutional Experiment: Essential Rights and Liberties. Boulder, CO: Westeview, 2000.
• Zacharias, Ravi. Can Man Live Without God? Dallas, Tx: Word, 1994. ISBN0-8499-3943-7. This is an outstanding book which offers an intellectual and philosophical analysis of modern culture. For the ethics student trying to understand the various philosophical perspectives discussed in class, this book will offer valuable additional information which will greatly aid that understanding. The book has a Christian perspective and offers a philosophical discussion at the highest academic levels. Dr. Zacharias has lectured at numerous universities around the world, including Harvard. Strongly encouraged for com 310, especially for Christian students.

For your information and edification:

• A Pocket Style Manual, by Diana Hacker. Bedford Books, St. Martin's Press, 1993 ISBN: 0- 312-08380-7
• Television Careers: A Guide to Breaking and Entering by Linda guess Farris Buy the Book Enterprises, 1995 (Fairfax, CA) ISBN 0-0638673-1-8
  
  
  
  

Many of these books have already been ordered in at our local campus bookstore. Be sure to check there for current titles. Some titles, especially those which are out of print are in the library. If you are looking for a title, but it is not available at the books store, let me know. We'll compile a list of how many copies we need for any particular title and the bookstore will order them for us.

For publishing web sites which may have more information about books and new books in the field which will become available:

Web sites: Focal Press http://www.bh.com

Addison Wesley Longman http://www.awl.com

Also, don't forget to check at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com for additional or new titles. I just spent two hours searching for new books on these sites. Do a search under television, broadcasting, radio, media law, media ethics......You'll find really large selections, descriptions and discounts on the books. As I receive or examine the books I found, I will add them to this list.

This book list is under construction.
Last updated 1/15/00