What the People Know: Freedom and the Press

Like many academics, University of Southern California professor Reeves feels that a lot of journalism has been ""blood, fire, sports, sex, mixed with stories to make you feel good about yourself and bad about your government."" But as an experienced reporter for the New York Times and the creator of award-winning television documentaries, he still believes that journalists are crucial, irreplaceable contributors to a democratic society. His 12th book reconciles his skepticism and faith with vivid arguments of seasoned optimism. Reeves lauds both ""Old Fartism"" (journalistic integrity, hard work and the four Ws) and technological change (experimentation, speed and adaptation). Answering charges that journalists are becoming outdated, Reeves stresses their resilience and dedication, cites CNN's successes and even claims that ""newspapers are better than they were pre-television."" While people may ""get the news"" in revolutionary new ways, Reeves cares most about how news ""is gathered and prepared for transmission."" Reeves does fear journalists' profit motives, their incessant criticism of government and their ignorance of business. Why? Because ""corporations own newspapers and television stations, government does not; corporations sue newspapers and television stations, government does not."" Based on his 1997 Joanna Jackson Goldman Memorial Lecture at the Library of Congress, this book's anecdotal approach may not satisfy historians, but Reeves's seasoned, passionately optimistic treatise should inform and inspire both media consumers and journalists alike. (Nov.) FYI: Another forthcoming book on the changing face of journalism, Live from the Trenches: The Changing Role of the Network News Correspondent, collects essays from 10 distinguished correspondents, covering everything from the changing nature of communications technology to the diminishing world of foreign news coverage. Foreword by Ted Koppel. (Southern Illinois Univ., $22.95 159p ISBN 0-8093-2232-3; Nov.)