Issues In Media: Selections From CQ Researcher » (1st Edition)

Will the Internet kill television?

Does indecency over the airwaves undermine American society?

Is the U.S. media industry too consolidated?

These questions provide just a sampling of the important, provocative issues addressed in this new reader, sure to lay needed groundwork and spark lively classroom discussion.

For current coverage of controversial and important issues centering on media, offer your students the balanced reporting, complete overviews and engaging writing that CQ Researcher has consistently provided for more than 80 years. This ideal supplement allows students to see an issue-whether it's media bias, the rise of blogs or the future of newspapers-from all sides while giving them a window into the linkages among media, culture, business and politics. In addition, useful pedagogical features-pro/con pieces, graphs, tables, photos, suggested readings and bibliographies-advance critical thinking and help in study and review.

Package this reader with Ralph Hanson's Mass Communication: Living in a Media World and save your students money! A comprehensive, engaging and compact introduction that brings a fresh media literacy focus to the course, Mass Communication embodies the high-quality, low-cost textbook that your students will prefer. Use 978-1-60426-455-5 when ordering or contact us at collegesales@cqpress.com to learn more.

Annotated Contents ix

Preface xiii

Contributors xv

Media and Culture

1 Broadcast Indecency 1

Does indecency over the airwaves undermine American society? 4

Does the FCC have sufficient authority to punish broadcasters for indecency? 7

Should the FCC regulate cable television? 9

Background 11

Early TV Taboos 11

The Cable Challenge 13

Shock Jocks 14

Current Situation 16

Raising Fines 16

Media Consolidation 16

Outlook: Political Posturing 19

Notes 19

Bibliography 20

2 Blog Explosion 23

Should policymakers be influenced by political blogs? 26

Should blogs tone down their political rhetoric? 28

Should bloggers have the same rights and privileges as reporters? 29

Background 30

Before Blogs 30

Birth of Blogs 33

Power of Blogs 34

Current Situation 38

Gaining Respect 38

Blogging at Work 40

Outlook: "Starting Discussions" 41

Notes 42

Bibliography 44

3 Cyber Socializing 47

Is cyberspace more dangerous than real space? 52

Should schools and public libraries block access to social-networking sites? 54

Does Internet social networking foster good relationships? 55

Background 57

Wired Love 57

Six Degrees 61

Techno Kids 62

Background Checks 64

Current Situation 65

Big Brother 65

Safety First 65

Outlook: Here to Stay 66

Notes 66

Bibliography 68

4 Free-Press Disputes 71

Should judges jail reporters for refusing to disclose confidential sources? 76

Should courts issue "gag" orders to limit publicity in high-profile cases? 77

Background 78

Freedom of the Press 78

Press Privileges 79

Press Complaints 81

Current Situation 82

A String of Losses 82

Media's Losing Streak 85

Civil Matters88

Outlook 88

Notes 89

Bibliography 91

5 Video Games 93

Does playing video games improve literacy? 96

Are video games addictive? 100

Do video games prepare young people for the future job market? 101

Background 103

Pinball Precursor 103

Equity Gap? 106

Gender Gap Narrows 106

Current Situation 107

Big Business 107

Social Networking 110

Libraries Log On 110

Saying Less? 111

Outlook: Testing the Hypothesis 111

Notes 112

Bibliography 114

The Economics of Media

6 Media Ownership 117

Is the U.S. media industry too consolidated? 122

Did the FCC loosen its media-ownership rules too much? 123

Should Congress reimpose rules limiting television networks' ownership of programming? 124

Background 127

Regulating the Airwaves 127

Deregulation Begins 127

Complaints Increase 130

New Media Landscape 130

Current Situation 131

TV Industry Split 131

Reaction to Rules 131

Chairmen Under Fire 132

Cable Debate 134

Outlook: More Mergers? 134

Notes 135

Bibliography 138

7 Media Bias 141

Is the news audience fracturing along partisan lines? 145

Does having more news outlets mean the public is better informed? 146

Has the press been sufficiently skeptical in its coverage of Iraq? 149

Background 154

Revolutionary Change 154

Electronic Media 154

Tabloid Culture 155

Current Situation 156

Merger Mania 156

Blurring the Lines 158

Outlook: Abandon Objectivity? 159

Notes 160

Bibliography 162

8 Controlling the Internet 165

Is the global Internet in danger of being dismantled? 168

Should telephone and cable companies be allowed to control the Internet? 171

Should local governments be allowed to provide broadband Internet service? 173

Background 175

Born in the USA 175

Battle of the Band 177

Current Situation 182

Fighting for the Net 182

Whither ICANN? 183

Outlook: Wireless Is "Happening" 184

Notes 184

Bibliography 186

9 Advertising Overload 189

Will the new spam-control law work? 192

Have existing limits on tobacco advertising worked? 195

Are tougher limits needed on advertising to children? 197

Background 201

Protecting the Public 201

Commercial Speech 202

Gagging Telemarketers 203

Current Situation 204

Protecting Kids? 204

New Ad Avenues 204

Outlook: Schools Targeted 206

Notes 207

Bibliography 208

The Future of Media

10 Future of Newspapers 213

Is the newspaper industry in financial jeopardy? 215

Will newspapers succeed online? 219

Can newspapers attract more younger readers? 220

Background 221

Growing the Press 221

Going Public 223

Going Online 227

Current Situation 228

Shrinking the Newsroom 228

Looking for Readers 230

Outlook: Going Private? 231

Notes 232

Bibliography 234

11 Future of Television 237

Will the Internet kill television? 239

Will television remain a viable medium for advertisers? 242

Are scripted TV shows obsolete? 244

Background 247

Early TV 247

Cable and Video 247

Regulating Competition 248

Current Situation 250

Policy Debates 250

All-You-Can-Eat TV 252

Outlook: Shifting Landscape 255

Notes 256

Bibliography 257

12 Future of the Music Industry 261

Can the music industry recover its profitability through lawsuits? 264

Is music overpriced? 266

Will compact discs become obsolete? 267

Background 268

Same Old Tune 268

Post-war Changes 269

The Digital Age 271

RIAA in Court 272

Current Situation 274

Policing the Internet 274

Legislation Battles 274

Entering the Digital Age 275

Outlook 278

Notes 279

Bibliography 280