Newspapers Books

Olasky is a nutcase. Unfortunately, I've had him for a college professor. He has some good ideas, and is one of the few people in journalism with a strong sense of ideals, but they are misguided. He seems to think that the only responsible media can be a "Christian" media. This book is good if you think that The 700 Club does a fair job of presenting world news, otherwise stay away from it except for comic relief

In PRODIGAL PRESS, Dr.Olasky described the descent of secular journalism from objective "truth telling" to mere public relations and propaganda. In this book, he turns to journalists who claim to write from a Christian perspective. Such writers, of all people, are "called to excellence," yet many of them write shallow, second rate material. The author calls for a "revitalization" of Christian journalism. He quotes theologian J. I. Packer who says this is a fundamentall need in our post-Christian culture. The book is aimed primarily at Christian journalists, or would-be journalists, yet there is much of general interest here. If nothing else, it shows why WORLD magazine (for whom Olasky is editor-at-large) is such a "good read."

Professor Olasky packs a lot of information into 300 pages, and he does it with obvious affection for his subject. He does not take the typical Christian stance against modern journalism, which is to fall down and cry foul.

Olasky marches through a brief history of journalism and demonstrates how the most precious truths modern journalists believe -- the independence of the press, the value of truth, the focus on uncovering evildoers -- all owe their existence to Reformers such as Martin Luther and Puritans such as Cotton Mather.

But most of the book unwraps the core beliefs and virtues of journalism and points out the nuts and bolts that hold them together. A great introduction to journalistic writing for biblical Christians who want to change the world and how it thinks.

I am hard pressed to give an example of a sentence from this book that is not so laden with irrelevance that a moment's thought will not entirely dissolve its meaning. I give you the first, as a warning: "We had been here, the ribbon of reminiscences reminded me, many times before." And sentence after sentence, the author just doesn't quit, writing that is. And if you are like me, you will wish he had. Unless, of course, you hate baseball and everything to do with it, or you are a collector of the worst samples of writing in the english language. It's like when you were a kid with a nickel and you wanted to buy some candy, but every time you reached out to take a jaw breaker the guy behind the counter whacked you with a yard stick.

How fortunate I was to grow up during the 1950's and be old enough to remember most of these announcers as they painted pictures for us through the medium of radio. Curt Smith does a superb job of bringing these names back to us. Dizzy Dean and Bud Blattner and later Pee Wee Reese, Harry Caray and Jack Buck, Bob Prince, Byrum Saam, Jack Brickhouse, Vin Scully, Ray Scott along with Herb Carneal and Halsey Hall, Earl Gillespie, Ernie Harwell, and, of course, Red Barber and Mel Allen along with many others are chronicled here in this historical book on the voices that brought the National Pastime alive via the medium of radio and later television. If you are not familiar with many of the names listed above, be good to yourself and educate yourself. The many men in this book made it possible for the fan to be able to say like singer Terry Cashman, "I saw it on the radio." I found this book to be a must to include in any baseball fan's library.

I grew up listening to some of the greatest voices in baseball, Ernie Harwell, George Kell, Harry Caray. To me, the voices who described the games were almost as important as the game itself. They brought the game to life, taught it, and shared the game with us. Finally, from the skilled pen of Curt Smith there is a book that tells us the history of baseball broadcasting, giving us insight into the personalities involved. It's a great book! Every baseball fan should have a copy!

"Becoming a columnist can not only bring you a larger professional practice and an enhanced image, but it can also unlock rewarding avenues, such as lucrative speaking engagements with associations and civic organizations, and consultations." ~ Charlotte Digregorio

Charlotte Digregorio is a nationally known writing teacher who has built a freelance career on a good foundation of research. She believes that the job of a writer is to find a new angle and to see what isn't being covered in your area of expertise. She has taught journalism at colleges and also gives workshops to aspiring columnists.

You Can Be A Columnist shows you how to not only gain local exposure but gain regional and national exposure with your column. For aspiring writers this can seem like a dream come true and this book presents a step-by-step approach to breaking into a lucrative writing career.

Charlotte Digregorio will also show you how to:

Identify the specific type of column you want to write
Find entertaining topics on a regular basis
Sell your column
Develop your own writing style
Learn how to gather facts and present them professionally
Write a cover letter
Convince editors of the need for your column
Establish a track record by writing a regular column
Offer your expertise to the public
Decide on the type of column you want to write
Communicate with your readers

Regardless of your background or interests this book shows you how to become an authority in your field of expertise. Authors will appreciate her ideas on how to market their books more effectively through writing articles. Reading this book gave me a good idea of what it takes to be a columnist. You can embrace the lifestyle or even become a guest columnist in your spare time.

~The Rebecca Review

YOU CAN BE A COLUMNIST is an extremely helpful guide for anyone entering this field. As a travel writer & columnist myself I tend to examine books both for their practical information and for the quality of the writing. This book is excellent on both counts. Anyone contemplating becoming a columnist MUST buy this book.

This book is written for a complete beginner (and I considered myself a beginner before I read it) and it's targeted specifically to "housewives and retirees" who want to gain a little recognition in the community. Which is certainly a nice thing, but it's not at all my situation (in my twenties, a college degree, not yet a published writer but a voracious reader.) She includes "tips" like: It's an interesting idea to start a column with a cliche....or maybe a *twist* on a cliche! (There is almost an entire page dedicated to all the ways you can use a cliche as the first sentance.) Most of the book is a collection of "sample" columns that she wrote specifically to be "bad" examples, which she then critiques. I would have much preferred that she critique real-life, published columns by other people. There's just a very outdated, remedial feel to the book.
I did learn two important things from this book, though: 1. that column anthologies are a very good way to read a bunch of good columns at once (instead of collecting a pile of newspapers in the kitchen), and 2. that column-writing is an art probably best learned by reading lots of other people's columns and then emulating that in your own way (rather than reading a how-to book). The author herself started out that way; she describes her lack of a journalistic background before she simply jumped into the newspaper world.
I was so disappointed in this book, and bought it because there weren't any reviews saying that it was a waste of money, so I hope this will save someone a few bucks.

Anyone interested in self-publishing a book can learn a lot from Ingrid M.E. Hicks' Publish it Yourself! The "ABCs". Within these 68 pages is everything you need to know to self-publish a book. Hicks has managed a coup by having her forward written by Dan Poynter, the guru of the self-publishing business.

If the how-to books have you feeling overwhelmed and slightly nauseous about venturing into this field, Hicks makes the process seem relatively painless. That's the beauty of this little book. It tells you what you need to know, then lets you research each step. Each chapter gives tips and how-tos that range from completing the manuscript to building a publishing company to printing, promotion and, that goal of all writers, book sales.

This book is basic, to the point and does not have any superfluous information...it's all captured for you. All you need to do now is finish your manuscript, buy a copy of Publish it Yourself! The "ABCs" and get ready for the ride!

When I got this book in the mail I was a little disappointed. It is a very tiny book. Maybe it's more my fault for not reading the description more thoroughly.

The book does have some decent information in it on self-publishing. If you don't own any books about self-publishing, the this book may be of some help to you. If however, you have read other books on the subject this book won't add any new information. Practically everything included you can find in another book that also includes much more advice.

Try just about any book from Dan Poynter.

The "Associated Press Reporting Handbook" is not so much a how-to handbook as it is a series of glimpses behind the scenes to see how reporters work and what it takes to create the magic that makes it into print.

Rather than acting as an all-knowing instructor, Jerry Schwartz treats the reader as a fellow journalist who might be able to learn from the other reporters he introduces. The majority of the book reads like a collection of human interest stories in which the subjects are the reporters and specific examples of the stories they produced. Every chapter begins with an AP article and is followed by the story behind the story as told by the journalists themselves. This makes the book both enjoyable and incredibly informative because it gives real world examples of what it takes to be a good journalist, what goes into a great story and many of the factors and circumstances a non-journalist would never even consider.

Schwartz does a good job of covering different types of stories and situations (overseas reporting, investigative journalism, etc) so just about every journalist should be able to find something useful.

Those considering a career in journalism will probably benefit most from this book as will those new journalists just learning the ropes or trying to find their niche. Seasoned pros may enjoy reading the experiences of other journalists and may even pick up some ideas, but I think those who will benefit most from this book will be the rookies.

This book seemed to be speaking mostly to war correspondents or extreme journalists. Much of the information was not helpful to a small town journalist who is just looking for tips on how to interview and ethics.

Most of the book consisted of examples of great writing. All you have to do is pick up the front page of any large newspaper and you will get high quality examples of journalism. I thought this was completely unnecessary. Not what I expected.

This book is good for what it is. What it isn't, is how to be your own agent. Chapters on contracts and agreements say get a lawyer or agent. Though it does give examples of contract provisions, it leaves the reader thinking that he really does need an agent or attorney. This book isn't about never having an agent, its about getting the offer BEFORE you get an agent. It might even let you negotiate your first book deal if its a simple one.

However, the book IS a good guide on how to get your manuscript to an editor, and get him to read it. With tips not only on what your presentation should look like (query letters, sample chapters, etc.) but also how to find the right editor and make sure he or she reads your manuscript.

The book contains annecdotes from famous authors, sample query letters, cover letters, as well as tips on improving your chances to get plucked from the slush pile. It also does give you familiarity with contract terms and a good idea of what a "standard" offer might be, so that you and your agent will be speaking the same language.

This is a good book for anyone who wants to send their manuscript directly to the editor rather than trying to first find an agent. If you think you'll have more luck this way, this is a good book for you.

Levin writes a good guide for submitting, and the info from editors themselves is really good! However, four years later, some of his mergers and ideas are outdated.

Still good general info as long as you use other resources in conjunction!

I've read the fifth edition and found it to not have the number of typos other reviewers found in the 7th Ed., so I presume the typos were intentional as is common among publishers to protect their copyrights.

At any rate, this book is intended for the journalism student. It can get somewhat dry. In such a setting one can't expect cotton candy and Reese Peanut Butter Cups!

The people that can best benefit by reading this text are the people at your local weekly newspaper and the reporters for Fox News Corporation. Objectivity and source attribution are sadly lacking at many community newspapers, at Fox News and at Al Jazeera. Okay, that's a bit harsh. But I digress.

When I was younger I obtained more than two years college credit simply by obtaining business books, reading them, and working each and every exercise at the end of each chapter and then taking College Level Eaxamintions through CLEP. This book is one in which the reader could do likewise and obtain at least sufficient knowledge to earn one year credit.

Then, even if you choose not to enter the workforce as a news gatherer, writer or editor, at least you would have an appreciation for the process.

I highly recommend this book for anyone involved in writing news or features or for those who interface with newspeople.

This book has plenty of important information and it presents it in a simple way with concrete examples. That's good. HOWEVER, the edition I had was absolutely riddled with typos, misspellings, and incorrect punctuation. It's hard to take this book about newswriting fundamentals seriously, when one of the fundamentals - accuracy - is so obviously not a priority. Also, I'm not sure that a book is the best way to teach writing, at least this kind of writing. I fell way behind in the reading, but I still got an A in the class. I learned much more from On Writing Well by Zinsser than I did from this book.

A kiss-and-tell book which in which Mr. O'Neil attempts to convince us everything he has touched has turned to gold.

Do not read this if you like Brent Musburger, or think John Madden is a bit of a windbag.

An entertaining memoir from a TV sports producer who seems to have been an eyewitness to some of the most memorable moments and personalities in sports, from the 1972 Munich Olympics to the rise of John Madden.

O'Neil provides plenty of behind-the-scenes information and avoids insulting the reader's intelligence by including technical information (e.g., selection of camera shots during live action) that help in understanding a producer or director's role.

Unfortunately, O'Neil fell victim to the same politicking and backstabbing that accompany big-money network sports. However, this does not detract from the enjoyment of this book.

I'm a sucker for wordplay, especially when it takes communication to a new level. In this hit-and-miss volume, the New York Post puts its wordplay artistry on display, giving us the best of the wild and irreverent headlines from the last few decades. The most clever of the headlines move beyond merely play on words. "Sin in the Clones," blares one, accompanied by the photo of a couple of lab monkeys, is both a clever play on the song "Send in the Clowns" but also says something about the story -- that the Church finds sin in cloning humans. The headline from the book title does not skewer a song title, but is artful anyway: "Headless body found in topless bar" is gruesomely funny wordplay PLUS has the attraction of accurately describing the story. The Post (at least by its own accounting) lays claim to dubbing Ronald Reagan's anti-missile defense system "Star Wars." The name stuck, being more memorable and descriptive than "Strategic Defense Initiative." Alas, only a few of the Post's "best" achieve this level of art or incisiveness. "The Lady is a Trump," announcing one of "the Donald's" marriages, says little about the event other than that it occurred.

The book starts off with a 2-page history of the Post (mostly changes of ownership) followed by several pages bent on sliming the 1993 owner, real estate mogul Abe Hirschfield. Revenge is a dish best served cold, and the Post can't seem to get enough of laying this gentleman low. The rest of the book is devotes to covers and memorable inside pages. The chosen covers are taken from the world of politics ("The Full Monica"), sports ("May the Curse Be With You" -- odious to this Red Sox fan, but clever nonetheless) and the Mafia ("Gotti's Greatest Hits"). The selected titles also highlight the tabloid's propensity for bringing down the mighty -- be it Jim Bakker, Donald Trump or Martha Stewart -- and upping the cleavage count. Anything to get the proles to shell over a few clams. Later Post covers showed an alarming propensity to editorialize and pander to the masses in a way that goes well beyond journalistic limits of propriety. "Axis of Weasel" blares one headline from January 2003 over the photos of French and German leaders who opposed America's invasion of Iraq. While the locals must have lapped up that sentiment, after 5 years of war, the fun has gone out of it.

In any event, whether maddening or delighting, the Post headlines are eye-catching, if not always memorable, clever or right. They serve their purpose -- to attract reader attention, and entice them to pay 25 or 50 cents to see what other red meat might be lurking beneath the headers -- be they funny put downs or pix of some bathing beauty. "Topless Body" does not always show the Post in good light, but it does show it, and that may be all the point it needs.

It used to be that if someone wanted to keep educated with current events, a person would read THE NEW YORK TIMES. That paper used to be the paradigm of all the news that was "fit to print." Unfortunately, THE N.Y. TIMES isn't the paper that it used to be, has lost its objectivity, and has largely become a paper filled with little more than left-leaning political banter. Thank goodness for the NEW YORK POST! Started in 1801 by Alexander Hamilton the paper has gone through numerous shifts in ownership, but still exists not only as a newspaper, but also as one of the most amusing, interesting, and sensational papers in the country. I know that there are some that find the direction the Post has taken in recent years to be negative, but personally I find it refreshing compared to some of the more bland and completely uninformative writing in many large market newspapers.

HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR is a collection of famous and infamous headlines taken directly from the Post. The book is divided into seven chapters: general news, politics, interior headlines, celebrities, sports, mafia, and international news. There is a preface to the book from the Copy Desk of Robert Walsh. There's also an introduction that provides a short history of the newspaper and ends in a lambasting of former owner Abe Hirschfeld, who nearly drove the paper into the ground. Some of the Post's headlines became newsworthy in and of themselves, such as the Thursday, March 24, 1983 headline that named President Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative "Star Wars". Others are just amusing such as the cover story that gives the book its title, "Headless Body in Topless Bar." The book is mostly composed of copies of front pages with an occasional background about some of the headlines.

I enjoyed reading through the book. My only complaint is that the NEW YORK POST is a newspaper over 200 years-old, but all of the covers are from 30-35 years, with most from the past 5-10 years.

Overall, HEADLESS BODY IN TOPLESS BAR is an entertaining book that fans of the POST and newsjunkies in particular will probably find amusing.

There have been few fulllength studies of the short story, and Frank O'Connor's was one of the first and remains among the most influential. But it has held up miserably over the years. Even granted that he published the work in 1962, was it really necessary for O'Connor to refer so patronizingly to Katherine Mansfield as "the brassy little shopgirl of literature"? Or to treat Joyce's DUBLINERS as if it had been written in lightning on the summit of Mt. Sinai? (Of a sentence from "The Sisters," O'Connor writes, "You may play about as you please with alternatives to this phrase; you will find no combination of adjectives that will produce a similar effect, nor any way of reading the passage that will produce a different one.") Objectivity goes straight out the window; as a result, this study is much more useful as a picture of the literary attitudes of O'Connor's time than it is as any sort of rigorous study of the form it purports to analyze.

O'Connor's in-depth analysis goes to the heart of what the short story genre is about. It is written with unstinting commitment and erudition, and never strays into shallowness of any kind. For those who love his stories, it is perhaps surprising to find the beguiling storyteller in this academic vein. What is convincing is not so much his arguments as his evident passion and long reflection on the topics he chooses. To grapple with the theories he propounds, such as that of the short story representing "submerged populations" is to try and share a little in the maestro's genius. Something to come back to again and again. I'm sure my little review hardly does justice to it, so I suggest you read the book and see for yourself.