Do the Media Govern? : Politicians, Voters, and Reporters in America

Rating:
Summary: A Question Everyone Should Be Asking
Review: UCLA political science professor Shanto Iyengar and veteran journalist Richard Reeves deliver a great read filled with thought-provoking contributions and commentary. The book is balanced with delightfully entertaining (and revealing) personal experiences from seasoned reporters such as Lou Cannon, and scholarly analysis on the impact of the media on the political landscape of today.
Reeves' lifetime of experience endows this book with a depth of understanding rarely found in books on the media. His easy-to-read introductions set against the backdrop of Iyengar's comprehensive exegisis of the science of journalism provide a complete picture the fourth branch of government.
In addition to being a great journalism textbook, this volume is a page-turner for anyone interested in the complex interrelationships between those that make the news and those that report it.

Rating:
Summary: Ack!
Review: While it is apparent that the authors are knowledgable about the subject of media and the effects on population, it is also readily apparent that they do not posess an English degree. Put bluntly, the text is difficult to read and sentences lack fluidity and eloquence. In addition, the studies mentioned are often repetitive and do not offer anyhting new to the subject being presented. It's informational but arduous reading.