The Press: Inside America's Great Newspaper Empires

This survey consists of in-depth looks at the ``underdog'' Washington Post , the ``contender'' Los Angeles Times , the ``cathedral'' New York Times , together with less searching examinations of the Gannett and Knight-Ridder chains. While Cose, ex-president of the Institute for Journalism Education, covers in detail such journalistic landmarks as the publication of the Pentagon Papers, the bogus Washington Post story about the child heroin addict and the impact of the Watergate affair, all that takes second place to the corporate maneuverings in boardrooms and editorial offices. There are thorough accounts, for example, of the careers of Donald Graham, Otis Chandler and Punch Sulzberger. While of some interest to media buffs, the book's primary appeal will probably be to students of business history. (Apr.)