{"product_id":"9780805087291","title":"Fighting for Air : The Battle to Control America's Media","description":"\u003cstrong\u003eFighting for Air\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor(s): Eric Klinenberg\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn \"admirably researched and lucidly written\" investigation of the corporate takeover of the media—and what it means for Americans —that \"should serve as a wake-up call\" (Daniel Schorr, NPR)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFor the residents of Minot, North Dakota, Clear Channel Communications is synonymous with disaster. When a train derailment sent a cloud of poisonous gas drifting toward the small town, Minot's fire and rescue departments attempted to use local radio to warn residents of the approaching threat. But in the age of canned programming, there was no one at the six local non-religious commercial stations, all owned by Clear Channel, to take the call. The result for the people of Minot: one death and more than a thousand injuries.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOpening with the story of the Minot tragedy, Eric Klineberg's \u003ci\u003eFighting for Air \u003c\/i\u003etakes us into the world of preprogrammed radio shows, empty television news stations, and copycat newspapers to show how expanding conglomerate ownership of all media has harmed American political and cultural life—and how malign neglect by the federal government allowed it to happen. In a call for action, \u003ci\u003eFighting for Air \u003c\/i\u003ealso reveals a rising generation of activists and citizen journalists who are insisting on the local coverage we need and deserve.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview(s):\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e“Eric Klinenberg has written an extraordinary and powerful account of the devastating elimination of localism in U.S. media and journalism, and how Americans from all walks of life are rising up to challenge the great media crisis that grips our nation today. Brilliantly written and tightly argued, \u003ci\u003eFighting for Air\u003c\/i\u003e is the perfect book for anyone wanting to understand what is going on in this country, and why it is so important to our future.” —\u003ci\u003eRobert W. McChesney, author of The Problem of the Media\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Eric Klinenberg has given us a chilling report on how the American news media, increasingly concentrated, have made a mockery of the commitment to operate 'in the public interest, convenience, and necessity.' Admirably researched and lucidly written, \u003ci\u003eFighting for Air\u003c\/i\u003e should serve as a wake-up call on the deafness of radio and television to communal needs.” —\u003ci\u003eDaniel Schorr, Senior News Analyst for National Public Radio\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Big media conglomerates--in radio, TV and newspapers--have taken over local outlets all over America, silencing independent local voices. Eric Klinenberg has done a masterful job of researching what has happened to America's local news media. \u003ci\u003eFighting for Air\u003c\/i\u003e is a must-read for anyone who cares about the role of the media in a democracy.” —\u003ci\u003eGeorge Lakoff, author of Don't Think of an Elephant!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003ci\u003eFighting for Air\u003c\/i\u003e is a richly detailed, compelling, and timely investigation into the problem of the U.S. media and what people are doing to take it back. Klinenberg pulls back the curtain on complex media policy issues, with stories of real people, how they have been harmed by Big Media, and follows up with inspiring tales of underdogs who are fighting back and winning.  This book is a call to action to fight for a strong, vigorous, independent media.” —\u003ci\u003eAmy Goodman, host and executive producer of Democracy Now!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN:  9780805087291\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e ","brand":"Holt Paperbacks","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback","offer_id":40656497115342,"sku":"9780805087291","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0600\/7029\/7806\/products\/getimage_74d248c2-c8a1-44eb-a28c-25f2d450ea53.jpg?v=1639448811","url":"https:\/\/pickwickbookshop.com\/products\/9780805087291","provider":"Pickwick Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}