Synopses & Reviews
Devoid of technical jargon, this bio-critical sourcebook is a unique accounting of the careers of significant political commentators of the 20th century, including print and broadcast journalists, scholars, and political consultants. It offers insights into the rise and demise of political commentary, and future possibilities for an informed citizenry.
In 40 separate bio-critiques covering 42 of the 20th century's most significant political commentators, this book traces the evolution of technical political commentary through four phases: the didactic phase of commentary via the newspaper columnist, 1914-1928; the interpretive phase associated with broadcast commentary during the golden age of radio, 1929-1948; the entertainment phase of the TV era, 1949-1980; and the opinionated phase ushered in by the diversification and proliferation of targeted communications media in the final two decades of the century. The volume describes in detail the achievements and failures of each communicator's career in contributing to the rise and demise of political commentary across the four phases of development.
Review
For those enthralled with elections, political conventions, and the latest chatter inside the Beltway, a good political commentary and analysis are bread and butter.... Nimmo and Newsome ably supply biography and references for some of today's top commentators... this is a handy and useful way to learn about some of the men and women on the US scene who have distinguished themselves for their political commentary.Choice
Review
[Nimmo and Newsome] trace the development of political commentary by focusing on significant 20th-century commentators, offering biographical sketches of 42 commentators ranging form well-known figures like Walter Cronkite to the less famous George. W. Creel....[R]ecommended for comprehensive journalism collections.Library Journal
Review
The essays are well written... this volume rovides a unique perspective by emphasizing [the subjects'] role in shaping political discourse. Recommended for large public and academic library political-science collections.Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
Synopsis
Devoid of technical jargon, this bio-critical sourcebook is a unique accounting of the careers of significant political commentators of the 20th century, including print and broadcast journalists, scholars, and political consultants. It offers insights into the rise and demise of political commentary, and future possibilities for an informed citizenry.
Synopsis
The only volume of its kind to trace the development of political commentary in the 20th century through bio-critical analyses of the century's most significant professional political communicators in the United States.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [411]-412) and index.
About the Author
DAN NIMMO is a visiting scholar in the Department of Political Science at Baylor University.CHEVELLE NEWSOME is Assistant Professor of Communications at California State University, Sacramento.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Edward L. Bernays
David Brinkley
William F. Buckley, Jr.
John Chancellor
Marquis W. Childs
Noam Chomsky
George W. Creel
Walter Cronkite, Jr.
Elmer Davis
John Dewey
Phil Donahue
Georgie Anne Geyer
Paul Harvey
H. V. Kaltenborn
Larry King
Ted Koppel
Arthur Krock
Fulton Lewis, Jr.
Rush Limbaugh
Walter Lippmann
John McLaughlin
Robert MacNeil and James Lehrer
H. L. Mencken
Raymond F. Moley
Bill Moyers
Edward R. Murrow
Drew Pearson
Dan Rather
James Barrett "Scotty" Reston
Corinne "Cokie" Roberts
Martha Rountree and Lawrence F. Spivak
Carl T. Rowan
Eric Sevareid
Bernard Shaw
Lowell Thomas
Dorothy Thompson
Mike Wallace
Theodore H. White
George F. Will
Walter Winchell
Selected Bibliography
Index