The Mass Media : Opposing Viewpoints

School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-There is surprisingly little overlap between the earlier book of the same title (Greenhaven, 1987) and this current edition. The topics under consideration remain identical: Are the media biased? Do they accurately reflect American society? Should they be regulated? How do they influence politics and society at large? In this up-to-date offering, the opposing views, drawn from articles, reports, and book excerpts, focus on current areas of interest, with particular attention given to ethnicity, violence, and consumerism. Other insightful arguments include the right of the press to televise executions, whether or not war coverage is excessive, and if subliminal persuasion exists in advertising. These well-balanced presentations offer stimulating and controversial material that should enhance debates and reports. The critical-thinking activities in the previous edition have been eliminated, but the bibliographies and index have been expanded.-Judie Porter, Media Services Center, Portsmouth School Department, RI