The News in America

Radio, TV, newsreels, magazines, newspapers—they flood us with every variety of news, but how much do we know about how that news is gathered, processed, and distributed? Frank Luther Mott does know, and in this readable book he describes for the citizen how the people’s desire for news is supplied. He discusses the chief concepts of news, from sensation to objective statement; the values and abuses, the dangers and problems of each type of news; the question of news controls; and the news-purveyor’s—and the news consumer’s—responsibilities to the public interest. There are graphic sketches of a great wire news agency, a metropolitan newspaper, and a big radio newsroom—all of which are viewed in action. By the author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning A History of American Magazines.