Television Books

This was absolutely my favorite books as a child. Each night I would pick out a book for my mom to read to me and to her surprise (or not so much), I chose this almost every night. I know she hoped that I would pick something new, but I loved the way she used expression and voices with each character. The sweet message to this book is learning why it's important to share...even when you don't want to.

I had to buy this because my older son could not stand to part with his for his brothers sake! My eldest has the original that I had as a kid, so when I found this for such a good deal I couldn't pass it up to give to my youngest for his library. :)

This is one fun book, especially if you take on the character's voices. I read it so many times to my children when they were little, that after the book got destroyed, I was still able to quote it almost word-for-word! Time has dulled my memory, so wanted another book to refresh it. It's a delightful Sesame Street Book!

This book was hilarious. My daughter could not wait for me to get to the next page so that she could see what was going to happen next. It's even more fun when you do the actual voices of the characters (you have to be a fan of Sesame Street to pull this off). The book is also a teaching tool for sharing. It makes reading fun, and now my daughter can read it to me, word for word!

This is a very cute book. A witch owns an enchated cookie tree. Seeing Cookie Monster from Sesame Street on the horizon, the witch makes a quick spell to allow the tree only to give cookies to those who share the cookies. Cookie Monster ("Me need someone to share with")tries to convince all of his friends on Sesame Street to go back to the cookie tree so that they can share the cookies. Back at the cookie tree, the witch has become extremely unhappy with her spell: since she has no one to share with, the cookie tree won't allow her to have any cookies. Eventually things work out for everyone! This is a delightful story with great humor from Cookie Monster and your favorite characters from Sesame Street. A fun story with a great lesson for everyone!

After reading The Witch's Daughter, I picked this up. WOAH! This one was really good, It was a very good addition to the series, I still don't understand why they cancelled this series after only 8 books!

i dont usualy read books but as soon as i read the blurb i couldnt put the book doun!it was amazing and it had wonderful diskriptions i felt like i was almost ther since i read the witches daughter i carnt get enouf of the files in fact it only took me 4 houers of one night to read!i hope there will be more books from cade merril because he is a wonderful writer and im shur many feel the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cade Merrill is seventeen years old and the owner of a website, theblairwitchfiles.com. After his cousin Heather disappeared while filming a documentary on the Blair Witch, Cade has used his site as a means of gathering information on the unexplained events that take place in Blair Woods.

When Cade is contacted by photography student Laura Morely he initially dismisses her claim that she feels she has a bond with Heather. However, Cade finds himself drawn to her, and soon he has invited her to Burkittsville. At first, Laura comes across as enthusiastic, intense and determined, but Cade quickly discovers that lurking behind his initial impressions, there is something wrong with Laura. A trip to the ruined house of a serial killer causes her to experience strange visions of the owner's childhood. The photographs she takes prove to Cade that she is telling the truth, but Laura's behaviour rapidly becomes more erratic and out-of-control. As her visions reveal more about the dark secrets in the past of murderer Rustin Parr, Cade must discover the link between Laura and the serial killer before tragedy strikes again.

The fact that I haven't seen the movie itself didn't stop me from enjoying this book. The story is faced-paced and suspenseful. I recommend it as a great horror story for teens, but it probably wouldn't be suitable for any kids under twelve years old. ....

The Blair Witch Project leaves you wondering what really happened. This book does the same. What do you see, or is it all your imagination. The story is about a girl who does not understand why an old, recurring dream draws her to Burkittsville to go on a hike to Rustin Parr's house. A few good twists and an awesome look into the past events of Parr's life, if all of it is not just crazy hallucinations. Pick it up...!

I was unsure whether I was going to like The Blair Witch Files 2: The Dark Room because I hadn't read any previous books by author Cade Merill. But, as it turned out, I found this book to be simple to follow, its not like a sequel, just really one great book by itself. The writing is at times repetitive, but all elements of the story lead up to a well thought-out climax. All the characters have numerous sides to them, it gives you something to think about after reading a few chapters. And not to mention the freak factor! The Blair Witch Files 2: The Dark is probably the scariest book I have read in a long amount of time. You can see all the terror in your head after some chapters, but, like the characters, you're forced to keep going because it's the only way to find out the mystery.

Being a huge Dawson's Creek fan, I just had to purchase this book and am I glad I did! The postcards are great! They truly capture the essence of the show!

Because I have already made it clear that I love Dawson's Creek, it's obvious that I would love this! The poscards are great! The pictures help to show why the show is so great!

My name is Jenn and I want to be just like Jenn on the show. she is my role model. i hope to one day be as experienced as her. think about it she gets to fool around with Dawson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book is sooo awsome. I love the pictures and of course I will never send them. Ther just to cool. In all the pictures Pacey is soo cute. I love this postcard book!

I loved this postcard book. All the photos are great! I would NEVER actually send these postcards to anyone because the pictures are just too great!

Mister Rogers clearly had a way with children and adults when he was alive, and his words still have a powerful effect. When reading this book, you do feel that he is talking to you, addressing your concerns and helping you. The selection of letters is just right for getting his points across without overkill or over-emotion.

Although this book was written for adults, you can read it to your children and they would probably enjoy it. You learn lots of the inside things about the show that are fun to know or point out to your kids. Understanding that this is a book geared towards adults, you will learn lots of things that will help you understand children. You will also find parts of the book to be funny and touching. I have enjoyed the book and would recommend it for Mister Rogers' fans.

I bought this book primarily as a gift for my cousin, whose son is a big fan of the show. I thought that at 2 1/2, he would soon start asking the type of questions addressed in the book, and this would help his parents answer them. I also enjoyed the innocence of the sometimes silly questions asked by the letter writers, and how Mr. Rogers dealt with each person with the compassion and understanding that has made him a family favorite for the last thirty years. Even though he is gone and will be sorely missed, I'm glad that I could help pass on his wisdom to a new generation of fans.

If you love Mr. Rogers, this book is worth your read. Through his letters he reminds us once again how to be a good "friend" and respect the feelings of all the people in our neighborhood.

I watched Mr. Rogers as a child, I watched and respected him and his TV "ministry" as a Kindergarten teacher and mother. I think he was the most genuine and caring person on television! Very calming and great for kid's self-esteem....what a wonderful role model and human being. This as well as the other books about and by Fred Rogers are priceless. This book is very touching....letters from his viewers with his own responses. A beautiful thing!

I thought this was just going to be a piddly little book, but it was a really nice quality. It's got nice, thick, glossy pages and tons of photos. It has all sorts of inside information. Definitely worth the money.

I love Degrassi and all things Degrassi. :) The book was cool.

If you like dramas, then this is the best show ever! The characters are interesting and the story line is fantastic.

For those who are fans of DeGrassi: The Next Generation ... this was one to watch to understand how some of the story lines blended together. Joey and Caitlin break up for the final time (sort of) before starting all over again as adults a decade later. For those of you who believe you never get over your first love ... the Joey and Caitlin drama seems to follow that thinking pattern. The first series ended in 1991 after several years in production and was revived in late 2001. The very first episode was the DeGrassi 10th anniversary reunion and the reconnection of Joey and Caitlin. It's almost like a Canadian version of Casablanca when Joey meets Caitlin at the airport and she gets off the plane ...

Joey: Caitlin. All those years ago, when I broke your heart, I thought I'd lost you forever.
Caitlin: And, yet-here you are, standing in an airport with me on Christmas...

I guess for these two it is a case of "We'll always have Toronto. We'll always have DeGrassi" ... Kind of makes you want to watch The Notebook.

Degrassi: The Kids of Degrassi Street Series, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection, Degrassi High Collection (14 Volume Set), Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1. If you haven't heard of any of these television shows, then you don't know what you're missing! What began in 1979 as a brainstorm of Kit Hood and Linda Schuyler quickly became one of the most innovative, entertaining, and envelope-pushing shows of the eighties and early nineties.

The Degrassi shows can best be described as teen soap operas, although they're so much more than that. These shows, set in Canada and originally based on a group of kids who lived on Degrassi Street in Toronto, Ontario, brought new meaning to the term "teen drama." Thankfully, Degrassi Junior High - The Complete Collection and Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1 are now on DVD, so if you missed it the first time around you can catch up with all of us who are devoted fans.

Kathryn Ellis has created the premiere reference guide for all things Degrassi with this book. With photos and detailed biographies of all the characters in each of the four shows, set designs, guest stars, and even an episode-by-episode synopsis, no fan wants to be without this book. Ms. Ellis hasn't forgotten the stand-alone supplement movie, School's Out!, either. She also covers makeup, hair, and wardrobe, the music of the shows, the numerous bands of the characters, and the hard-hitting issues that Degrassi took on throughout the years.

This is a book all Degrassi lovers must have for their collection. And if you haven't yet discovered this Canadian gem, I urge you to pick up a few DVDs to get the ball rolling. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

I recommend this book. It uses ProTools to illustrate the various aspects of dialogue editing and succeeds in getting the info across in a clear manner. I would have given it 5 stars if the book had been accompanied by a CD containing examples / exercize files.

In my opinion, Purcell has written the definitive book on post-production sound editing for feature film. This is the best yet. Though this book focuses primarily on dialogue editing (a largely misunderstood and under-appreciated craft), there is a wealth of information that would benefit anyone who works in post-production from the picture cutting room to the final mix dubbing stage.

While so many books on this subject are written from the point-of-view of the technician, the academic, or the bedroom studio warrior insulated in his own "home-brewed" workflow, it's clear from the first few pages that Purcell has spent many years working in the professional film industry. Many times I feel like I've been on some of the same crews that he describes.

Overall, this book is not only informative but very funny and cleverly written. As someone who works in the industry myself, I got a lot out of this book and would recommend it to anyone who is interested in this field or who wants to broaden their understanding of how the "Invisible Art" really works.

Hey there,

I read the amazing book of John Purcell all night and I couldnt stop.
This book contains everything that sound editor & sound desginer need for Dialogue editing.

The book doesnt patronizing or try to goes a round by his language. Its talking straight to you as an editor. step by step building you as Dialogue editor and construct John famous and modest System.

I was student of John Purcell, and I am using his methods from college time, because of his system I get compliment & awards.

Director that I used to work with John system got compliments for the Sound Editing & Design on her movie from Mike Leigh - The famous Director. that close the case. The book is must in every sound desginer or Dialogue editor who take himself seriously...

Yours With truthful respect
Yaniv

This is the best book I have ever read on dialogue editing! It explains everything from budgeting time for a project all the way up to the final mix. John Purcell clearly loves his job and his enthusiasm comes through in his writing. I highly recommend this book to all filmmakers as a way to learn exactly what goes into the dialogue editing process and I consider it a must read for all sound editors.

John uses pictures and examples to demonstrate what he is talking about. He shows how to organize EDLs and how to use them to find alternate takes and locate wild sound for a particular scene. Though every film has its own quirks, John also demonstrates how to handle common problems with matching rooms tones from different angles in scenes. Those two aspects alone make the book worth getting, but there is a wealth of information in this book that makes it an excellent purchase.

Clearly phrased, easy to read, concise and extremely useful, this book is a step by step guide to every pop, crackle and roll of the core part of sound editing - making the dialogue heard. It also has a great overview of the context - how to transfer production sound from the picture editing room, what you'll need from production as well, favoured/time saving procedures and the required contacts in other departments of production (a crucial though rarely covered issue).
The basic feel is somewhere between a 'how to' guide and a master-class. The book covers a lot more than which plug-in gives you what or how to use your mouse. Anyone with a few basic concepts in editing would probably be able to give it a go him/herself, or at least have a very good clue on what should be done in order to get the job done, and done well.
It's also packed with illustrative materials of most dialog boxes and written materials you should run into while working.
I'd recommend it to editors (both picture and sound) and post production facilities (in case a producer might wander in and wonder what's the big deal with dialogue).

DICK ENBERG DOES A GREAT JOB IN THIS BOOK ABOUT HIS BROADCASTING CAREER. HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH AL MCGUIRE, BILLY PACKER, MERLIN OLSEN, DON DRYSDALE AND MANY MORE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ENTERTAINING, INTERESTING AND WELL WRITTEN BOOK. HIS INSIGHTS ABOUT AL MCGUIRE IS ESPECIALLY NOTEWORTHY. I HAVE READ MANY SPORTS BOOKS BY BROADCASTERS, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE COME ACROSS. I ALWAYS RATED DICK ENBERG AS AN EXCELLENT SPORTSCASTER NO MATTER WHAT SPORT SUBJECT HE COVERED. ONE OF MY FAVORITES SHOWS HE HOSTED WAS SPORTS CHALLENGE (WHICH IS OCCASIONALLY ON ESPN CLASSIC CHANNEL). HIS COVERAGE OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL AND PRO FOOTBALL IS LEGEND. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS FOR ALL SPORTS FANS. A GREAT READ.

For anyone who has had the privilege of listening to the smoothest, most knowledgeable, and "easiest to take" sports broadcaster of them all, this book goes down as a must read. I devoured it in two sittings (which is rare for me) and the only reason I put it down the first time was because I had to go to work! Warm, insightful recollections from a wonderful gentleman (and as you will discover, sometimes prankster!) who has seen it all, and has the unique ability to make every amazing story come to life in the friendly and cozy style that anyone who has followed his remarkable career over the years has come to know and appreciate. (Now I look forward to viewing the bonus dvd!) Mr. Enberg, thank you so much!! (and Oh My!)

Dick Enberg has always inspired trust in me. I always felt that he really cares about what he is doing, and that he is just as excited about the event he is broadcasting as any die hard fan watching or listening at home. He calls each game with such grace and class, that it is easy to take his talent for granted. This book allowed me to get a broader look at the man himself, and to find out that I have not misplaced my trust.

There is not a dull moment in this book. It covers the gamut emotionally, from poignant stories about Al McGuire to hilarious fun with Don Drysdale and Bob Uecker. Throughout it all, more and more of Dick Enberg is revealed, and the reader is able to gain insight into Enberg's drive, honesty, sense of humor, competitive nature, and sincere desire to present the best possible product to his audience. Many different sports are covered and the tone of the book is one of respect for the sports, and for the sports community.

The broad scope of the book allowed me to read about a wide range of sporting events and the unique nature of each event, both satisfying me and leaving me thirsty for more. So, I'm hoping that there will be a sequel because I'm sure that this was just the "tip of the Enberg." There is something for everyone in this book and I'm sure you will really enjoy it.

Anyone who has watched sports has heard Enberg's classic "Oh My!" comment for great plays and recognizes him as one of the greats in broadcasting. Oh My is a fascinating tale of his life and adventures in sports from his early days in college through now. The stories he has are classic and it's always a joy to listen to him do a game whether it be football, basketball, etc.

Pick this book up and enjoy a classic tale through his days in broadcasting!

This is a fascinating book, and makes a wonderful Christmas gift. The story of Dick Enberg's life is inspirational, well-written, and a page-turner. And most important, for people like me - you do not have to be a sports fan to enjoy reading this. Anyone can appreciate the stories, from Enberg's insightful view of his humble Michigan childhood to his ardent dedication to his challenging craft. With a career of great success, including numerous Emmy's, awards, and accomplishments, Enberg also relates many humorous mishaps and anecdotes from the sports booth, while providing a realistic glimpse of the hard work going on "behind the scenes" in any network broadcast. Enberg's love of family, his honesty about personal problems, and his work ethic make reading this a treat. I highly recommend this book, for men AND women. And its great for teen-agers, because one of the secrets of this man's celebrated career was his preparation and effort to seize opportunity, along with a fervent appreciation of education. Thumbs-up for this one, you'll enjoy every page!!

Perfect book for a Dora lover. Pictures are inserted wtihin the sentences so your child can read along and particpate with you!

My daughter and I love to read this book together. It is nice and short. My daughter is also learning to spell because of the simple and repetitive words in the book.

My two daughters (ages 2 and 4) request this book be read--at least once a day (along with all the other "Ready-to-Read" books we bought for them). They especially get excited when it's time to go under the sea with Dora. I think this book is probably geared toward the preschool/beginning grade school set. It has big words and colorful pictures. The stories are simple and not too long.
Certain words have little "pictographs" with the word that it's for directly underneath it in smaller print. I suppose this is to help the child learn to read these certain words. Since my daughters are still pretty young (the oldest is now just learning the sounds different letters make; she already can recognize all the letters), we haven't really tried to use these little pictures in that way. Although, we've read this story so many times to them that they "read along" by reciting from memory certain parts of the story. All Dora the Explorer books are great fun for the kids because it involves them in the story much like the TV show does.
I highly recommend it.

My son absolutely loves this book and so does his 2-year old cousin. He enjoys looking at the pictures to "guess" the word and it makes him feel like he's really reading the book. This is his favorite book and wants to read it every day.

We like "Dora in the Deep Sea". My children like it because it has a pretty good story and because it is about Dora, Boots and Pirate Piggy. I like it because it is a good read-aloud, has lots to point out and talk about, and because it allows for a different sorts of interactivity depending on age.

In that regards, Amazon suggests this book for the 4 to 8 age range, but I think it is much more versatile than that. For example, for babies you can read the story and talk about what animals are in the picture and what color they are. [There are seagulls, a variety of silly fish, octopuses, sea anemones, eels, crab, starfish, clams, stingrays, turtles, lobsters, whale, squid, frog, snail, fox (Swiper) and sea horses. There are a great many colors to discuss as well.]

For older toddlers and preschoolers you can `enhance' the story experience by moving your finger over the text, stopping at the `icons' with the intent of letting them fill in the blanks. My children get excited by this because it gives them the sense that they are beginning to feel apart of the `reading'. And if our experience is any indication, they learn that text flows from left to right and top to bottom.

Advanced preschoolers and kindergarteners on up can then begin to use the book for its stated purpose. They can begin to read it themselves. Most words are small: I, am, this, sad, will, the, and help. Although there are harder words for sure: Hooray, swipe, friend, something, clownfish, pirate, and pinch.

Four stars. A pretty good story (see previous reviewers fine summary) about the popular characters from the "Dora the Explorer" TV show. It can be used for babies to beginning readers. It engages children in the flow and process of reading, i.e. how it is done.

Anyone who has to hire film or video crews and other production personnel should consider this book. The author covers nearly every production category imaginable - so much so that it's like NAB in a book. With so many new digital and film products on the market today, this book makes it a lot easier to talk the right lingo with essential crew members and stay informed of what new and old options are available for any production budget.

Anyone who has to hire film or video crews and other production personnel should consider this book. The author covers nearly every production category imaginable - so much so that it's like NAB in a book. With so many new digital and film products on the market today, this book makes it a lot easier to talk the right lingo with essential crew members and stay informed of what new and old options are available for any production budget.

I purchased this book as a graduation gift for a friend in film school
and then I bought myself a copy. I've been using it in production
meetings to discuss equipment options with my crew and I plan to add it
to the list of required reading for all of my production interns.
This book really covers an incredible spectrum of production tools
available to filmmakers and video users alike.

This book is full of toys that I didn't even knew existed. I was really impressed with the depth of product and information that they gathered in this book. There is some great gear in this book that I have to get. It contained things that I never would have imagined. And they will help speed up and drastically improve my next film shoot. Good find.

I purchased this book as a graduation gift for a friend in film school and then I bought myself a copy. I've been using it in production meetings to discuss equipment options with my crew, and I plan to add it to the list of required reading for all of my production interns.
This book really covers an incredible spectrum of production tools available to filmmakers and video users alike.

If ever the First Amendment needed a life jacket, this is the time. Rowse tells how good newspapering, that is tough, honest reporting, is drowning thanks to the media giants and the corporate villains who control them. Whether its politics, economic disasters for the working poor, pollution or corruption, America is being denied a saving hand from the very institutions that the Founding Fathers provided us. Here is a lighthouse book offering a way out of our troubled journalistic waters. And it's a page-turner, as well.

It's quite alarming to learn how the failure of the press to report responsibly on government and politics (versus scandal, crime, and drama) is affecting the demise of a living democracy. Four out of ten Americans don't even know who the vice president is (although I have to believe in this year with the VP running for president, that might be different)! The book documents quite well how the press is methodically contributing to the decline of interest in politics and the power and political influence of the owners of media giants. A good read!!

Rob

In Drive-by Journalism, Arthur Rowse makes a convincing case that a lack of reliable news is crippling American democracy.

As a result of deregulation of the news and entertainment industries, a steady series of corporate mergers has concentrated the media into a five-firm oligopoly of unprecedented power. We may think we have a lot of channels to choose from, but they all come from the same handful of sources, all of which are more interested in satisfying corporate investors than in producing an informed electorate. Rather than compete, the media conglomerates collude like mafia bosses, divvying up the available markets, using every available second of air time to sell us products, services, and a consumer lifestyle. This does not speak well to the likelihood of our getting trustworthy news.

Rowse deftly slaps down the ridiculous yet pervasive myth that the mass media are liberally biased and demonstrates conclusively that quite the opposite is true. Although many reporters have liberal tendencies, they are not the ones who determine which stories get reported. News networks have become lap dogs for their parent companies, and these media giants are as conservative as they are powerful. Moreover, they respond to advertisers, not the viewing public. NBC, for example, wouldn't dream of reporting on General Electric, the most notorious polluter in the nation, because GE is now NBC's parent company. The same is true of ABC and Disney, CBS and Westinghouse. In fact, every major network is now owned by the biggest advertisers in the nation. Don't think that isn't affecting what gets reported on the 6 o'clock news.....

According to Rowse, about 40% of what we see on the news these days is not even the product of investigative journalism; it is pre-packaged propaganda "donated" to the networks by political and corporate public relations firms. By accepting these gracious handouts, the networks can reduce the number of expensive journalists they employ. The result, of course, is that networks no longer investigate; they merely serve as conduits through which powerful organizations deliver their pre-fab images to the public.

Perhaps Rowse’s most frightening point is the link he makes between poor news reporting and citizen apathy. With nothing but info-tainment and scandal stories on the news, Americans have no viable means to choose between one candidate and another, between one policy and another. So they don’t bother. With voters thus sidelined, well-funded corporate lobbyists have the undivided attention of our lawmakers, whom they outnumber 40 to 1.

This book is well-documented, well-organized, well-written, and vitally important in our times. Better still, it’s truly interesting. Rowse provides fascinating insider anecdotes that bring all his statistics to life. Very highly recommended.

In Drive-By Journalism: The Assault On Your Need To Know, Arthur Rowse sets for a compelling and persuasive argument that we are being lulled into political and social apathy by the steady beat of media produced "news-amuse" journalism. Rowse points out that media mergers are rapidly creating a huge news cartel with just five conglomerates controlling what most people see, read and hear in television news broadcasts and major urban center newspapers. Profit-at-all-costs pressures have created a kind of "drive-by" journalism with an emphasis on trivia and tragedy ("If it bleeds, it leads!). News producers must nowadays showcase information in a recreational or entertainment framework that prefers sensationalism over substance, sound bites over insights. That's why such critical matters as health care, gun control, tax equity, campaign reform, and the environment are made subservient to personality and horse race style coverage. Drive-By Journalism should be on the shelves of every community library in the country, and required reading for journalism students, media activists, and those charged with the responsibility for gathering, analyzing, and disseminating the news of the day.

"I saw the Iraqi soldiers come into the hospital with guns. They took the babies out of the incubator ... and left the children to die on the cold floor."

Casual news observers will recognize this quote, or at least the essence of it.

During the build-up to the Gulf War, this story, told by a teen-age Kuwaiti girl, was repeated again and again in the news media. As much as anything else, the anecdote softened public resistance to American intervention in Kuwait - a huge military undertaking that never completely shed its mercenary hue, but which enjoyed broad public support nevertheless thanks largely to a media that seemed ill-equipped or unwilling to get beyond the veneer of official proclamations and gee-golly techno-wizardry to the tough business of covering a war.

Less casual observers might know that the story was a pure fabrication. In fact, it took two curious reporters relatively little effort during the war's aftermath to discover what the entire Washington press corps had missed - not only was the story not true, but the girl who told it was the daughter of a Kuwaiti ambassador.

What very few of us probably realize to this day, however, was that the tale was just one piece of a coordinated propaganda campaign conducted by PR flacks on behalf of the Kuwaiti royal family. All told, the Kuwaitis spent $11.5 million to win the hearts and minds of their American saviors, most of it paid to Hill & Knowlton, one of the largest public relations firms in the world. For that relatively modest sum, Kuwait was able to summon the sympathy and might of the world's most powerful democracy, despite Kuwait's own questionable commitment to human rights. And going along for the ride the whole way were the American media.

The victory of public relations over reportage prior to the Gulf War is just one of the fascinating nuggets found in Arthur E. Rowse's Drive-By Journalism: The Assault on Your Need to Know, a blistering indictment of the current state of American journalism. A veteran journalist and media critic who has worked for National Public Radio, U.S. News & World Report, The Boston Globe and The Washington Post, Rowse writes like a man who knows how the sausage is made and isn't too pleased about his grandchildren having to eat it.

His book chronicles a spate of journalistic cardinal sins and exposes a rogues'gallery of media decision makers who have turned the sacred business of informing the public into a scramble for ratings and profits.

Elian, Monica, O.J. and JonBenet are just the tip of the iceberg, and, in Rowse's view, symptoms of a much more pernicious dynamic than just the public's demand for sensation and scandal.

At the heart of the media's current reliance on fluff, trivia and sensationalism, he argues, is the trend toward corporate ownership of media outlets. While journalism has always been a business, the profit motive was once far more balanced by - even subordinate to - journalistic standards.

In the 1960s, when CBS head Bill Paley was questioned by a member of his news division about the cost of his ambitious plans for news coverage, his response was more typical of that era: "Don't worry about that. I've got Jack Benny to make money for me. You guys cover the news."

Since then, says Rowse, mainstream media outlets have fallen all over themselves to slash staffs while favoring grislier, more sensational, more irrelevant coverage. Thus, crime reporting has become more frequent and more strident even as crime has dropped, while stories with emotional impact like the Elian Gonzalez saga supplant coverage of policy decisions that affect millions of Americans.

And instead of discussion about candidates' qualifications or stances on pressing national problems, campaign coverage is dominated by trivial horse race issues like who's raised the most money.

This hasn't just made us more uninformed, argues Rowse. We've also become much more susceptible to disinformation. Eager to fill the hard news gap left by the media have been special interest lobbyists, public relations flacks and think tanks - well-funded and well-organized groups with agendas to sell.

Rowse also explores the well-worn canard that our mainstream media are predominantly liberal. Not only does the prima facie evidence - that media are increasingly coming under the control of profit-driven corporations - suggest a conservative tilt, a look at the opinion pages of daily newspapers, where aggressive spin is encouraged, tells a different story as well. Of the top political columnists in the nation, the far-right Cal Thomas, with 537, is syndicated in the most dailies. George Will is second with 450. In fact, based on client numbers, Rowse counts a 3-to-1 advantage for conservative columnists over liberal ones. Add in talk radio, which is almost exclusively the province of right-wingers, and the liberal media myth explodes.

Other disturbing trends cited by Rowse are the increase in "gotcha" journalism; a snowballing, media-fueled cynicism about government's ability to address national crises; and a tendency to tilt reporting toward advertisers and affluent readers at the expense of broader coverage. (If the stock market is this strong then inflation-adjusted wages couldn't possibly have fallen in the last 20 years, right?)

If there's a criticism here it's that Rowse is woefully short on solutions, and those he does offer feel like spit in the wind. Perhaps the only real recourse, then, is for us as individuals to simply smarten up. Drive-By Journalism is a good first step down that path.