News for All the People - The Epic Story of Race and the American Media

"Here is a new, sweeping narrative history of American news media that puts race at the center of the story. From the earliest colonial newspapers to the Internet age, America's racial divisions have played a central role in the creation of the country's media system, just as the media has contributed to--and every so often, combated--racial oppression. News for All the People reveals how racial segregation distorted the information Americans received from the mainstream media. It unearths numerous examples of how publishers and broadcasters actually fomented racial violence and discrimination through their coverage. And it chronicles the influence federal media policies exerted in such conflicts. It depicts the struggle of Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American journalists who fought to create a vibrant yet little-known alternative, democratic press, and then, beginning in the 1970s, forced open the doors of the major media companies."--Jacket. Read more... Abstract: A landmark narrative history of American media that puts race at the center of the story. Read more... A Landmark Narrative History Of American Media That Puts Race At The Center Of The Story. Here Is A New, Sweeping Narrative History Of American News Media That Puts Race At The Center Of The Story. From The Earliest Colonial Newspapers To The Internet Age, America’s Racial Divisions Have Played A Central Role In The Creation Of The Country’s Media System, Just As The Media Has Contributed To—and Every So Often, Combated—racial Oppression. News For All The People Reveals How Racial Segregation Distorted The Information Americans Received From The Mainstream Media. It Unearths Numerous Examples Of How Publishers And Broadcasters Actually Fomented Racial Violence And Discrimination Through Their Coverage. And It Chronicles The Influence Federal Media Policies Exerted In Such Conflicts. It Depicts The Struggle Of Black, Latino, Asian, And Native American Journalists Who Fought To Create A Vibrant Yet Little-known Alternative, Democratic Press, And Then, Beginning In The 1970s, Forced Open The Doors Of The Major Media Companies. The Writing Is Fast-paced, Story-driven, And Replete With Memorable Portraits Of Individual Journalists And Media Executives, Both Famous And Obscure, Heroes And Villains. It Weaves Back And Forth Between The Corporate And Government Leaders Who Built Our Segregated Media System—such As Herbert Hoover, Whose Federal Radio Commission Eagerly Awarded A License To A Notorious Ku Klux Klan Organization In The Nation’s Capital—and Those Who Rebelled Against That System, Like Pittsburgh Courier Publisher Robert L. Vann, Who Led A Remarkable National Campaign To Get The Black-face Comedy Amos ’n’ Andy Off The Air. Based On Years Of Original Archival Research And Up-to-the-minute Reporting And Written By Two Veteran Journalists And Leading Advocates For A More Inclusive And Democratic Media System, News For All The People Should Become The Standard History Of American Media. Here is a new, sweeping narrative history of American news media that puts race at the center of the story. From the earliest colonial newspapers to the Internet age, America s racial divisions have played a central role in the creation of the country s media system, just as the media has contributed to and every so often, combated racial oppression. News for All the People reveals how racial segregation distorted the information Americans received from the mainstream media. It unearths numerous examples of how publishers and broadcasters actually fomented racial violence and discrimination through their coverage. And it chronicles the influence federal media policies exerted in such conflicts. It depicts the struggle of Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American journalists who fought to create a vibrant yet little-known alternative, democratic press, and then, beginning in the 1970s, forced open the doors of the major media companies.The writing is fast-paced, story-driven, and replete with memorable portraits of individual journalists and media executives, both famous and obscure, heroes and villains. It weaves back and forth between the corporate and government leaders who built our segregated media system such as Herbert Hoover, whose Federal Radio Commission eagerly awarded a license to a notorious Ku Klux Klan organization in the nation s capital and those who rebelled against that system, like Pittsburgh Courier publisher Robert L. Vann, who led a remarkable national campaign to get the black-face comedy Amos n Andy off the air.Based on years of original archival research and up-to-the-minute reporting and written by two veteran journalists and leading advocates for a more inclusive and democratic media system, News for All the People should become the standard history of American media. A new, sweeping narrative history of American news media that puts race at the center of the story From the earliest colonial newspapers to the Internet age, America’s racial divisions have played a central role in the creation of the country’s media system, just as the media has contributed to—and every so often, combated—racial oppression. News for All the People reveals how racial segregation distorted the information Americans received from the mainstream media. It unearths numerous examples of how publishers and broadcasters actually fomented racial violence and discrimination through their coverage. And it chronicles the influence federal media policies exerted in such conflicts. It depicts the struggle of Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American journalists who fought to create a vibrant yet little-known alternative, democratic press, and then, beginning in the 1970s, forced open the doors of the major media companies. Written in an exciting, story-driven style and replete with memorable portraits of journalists, both famous and obscure, News for All the People weaves back and forth between the corporate and government leaders who built our segregated media system—such as Herbert Hoover, whose Federal Radio Commission eagerly awarded a license to a notorious Ku Klux Klan organization in the nation’s capital—and those who rebelled against that system. Based on years of original archival research and up-to-the-minute reporting and written by two veteran journalists and leading advocates for a more inclusive and democratic media system, News for All the People should become the standard history of American media. [Pt.] I. The age of newspapers. "Barbarous Indians" and "rebellious Negroes" In the mail : the post office, the press and the mass political party Inciting to riot : the age of Jackson [pt.] II. Rebel voices. A new democratic press Priests, mobs, and know-nothings : the early Spanish-language press The Indian war of words To plead our own cause : the early Black press "The Chinese must go!" [pt.] III. The age of news networks. Wiring the news The Progressive Era and the colored press [pt.] IV. The age of broadcasting. Words with wings Trouble in the streets Other voices : Amos 'n' Andy, the "Sunshine Lady" and Los Madrugadores Uniting the home front The color line and the public interest : the post-War period Fierce rebellion, furious reaction : 1963-2003 [pt.] V. The age of the Internet. Controlling the means of transmission : old media's fall and new media's rise. From colonial newspapers to the Internet age, America's racial divisions have played a central role in the creation of the country's media system, just as the media has contributed to-and every so often, combated-racial oppression. This acclaimed book-called a "masterpiece" by the esteemed scholar Robert W. McChesney and chosen as one of 2011's best books by the Progressive -reveals how racial segregation distorted the information Americans have received, even as it depicts the struggle of Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American journalists who fought to create a vibrant yet little-known alternative, democratic press. Written in an exciting, story-driven style and replete with memorable portraits of journalists, both famous and obscure, News for All the People is destined to become the standard history of the American media.