Editor And Publisher International Yearbook 2003

In 1930 there were 288 competitive major newspaper markets in the United States. Today, there are fewer than 30. The diminishing diversity of opinion and voices in newspapers editorials is taking place even as technological advances seemingly provide more sources of (the same) information. As Hallock shows, the concentration of media ownership in fewer and fewer hands allows those individuals and entities an inordinate amount of influence. In this intriguing book, he examines 18 newspaper markets to show us exactly how and where this troubling trend is occurring, what it means for the political landscape, and, ultimately, how it can affect us all. Newspaper editorials say a lot about the society in which we live. They are not just an indication and reflection of the issues of the day and of which way the political wind is blowing. They are also a part of the political climate that sets the agenda for politicians, and helps them discern which are the hot-button issues and which side people are on. Journalists and politicians enjoy a level of symbiosis in their relationships-they influence each other indirectly. It therefore follows that when fewer ideas, and a narrower range of opinions, are expressed in the nation's newspapers, there is a real danger that our thinking can become more simplistic as well.

Have campaign finance reform laws actually worked? Is money less influential in electing candidates today than it was thirty years ago when legislation was first enacted? Absolutely not, argues Rodney A. Smith in this passionately written, fact-filled, and provocative book. According to Smith, the laws have had exactly the opposite of their intended effect. They have increased the likelihood that incumbents in the House and Senate will be reelected, and they have greatly diminished the chances that candidates who are not wealthy will be elected. Smith's claims are supported by convincing data; he collected and analyzed information about all federal elections since 1920. These data show clearly that money matters now more than ever. Smith thinks that reform legislation has created a new inequality for candidates that, if left unchecked, threatens to destroy the American electoral process by obliterating the foundational principle of free speech. He argues that "money buys speech" and when candidates lack money to buy media time and space they are effectively silenced. Their inability to "speak freely" violates the most significant intentions of our nation's founders: that a sovereign citizenry elect its own leaders based on a free exchange of ideas. For Smith, campaign finance reform has unwittingly unbalanced the checks and balances created by the Framers of the Constitution. After presenting a detailed historical overview of how we have reached the present crisis, Smith proposes a simple solution: institute a process that completely discloses relevant information about campaign donors and recipients of donations. All disclosures would be available to the media, which would be able to investigate and report them fully. Only then, Smith believes, will the United States have the opportunity to be the democratic republic that its founders intended.

Technology in the 21st century has redesigned most editorial jobs and extended the potential reach of any publication, no matter how small . In effect, not only the individual business models but also the overall industry competitive model has changed. No longer confined to serving a physically defined environment, individual newspapers can set their own goals, both for news distribution and for advertising reach, without concern for physical restrictions. And the continual sales of newspaper properties result in mergers, increased clustering and other types of group alliances. The newspaper industry is also affected competitively by employee recruitment and retention, the non-daily market, other news-related media and non-news carriers of advertising. The industry-related technology has in effect exploded, reaching every news medium in some way. Within the framework of the exploding technological environment, the country's economy and changing demographics have created increased challenges for an industry so dependent on advertising revenue and reader reach. This volume explores the competitive issues as they relate to the industry at this time.

From teaching English to analyzing intelligence for the federal government, the international field offers a broad spectrum of exciting job opportunities. For over twenty years, International Jobs has been the authoritative guide for researching and launching an international career. In this newly revised sixth edition, veteran career counselor Nina Segal updates Eric Kocher's classic reference, providing all the tools necessary for understanding the complex international job market and finding the right employment options. With the tried and true components of previous editions-practical résumé and interviewing advice, market analysis, and insightful "day-in-the-life" stories-as well as substantially increased Web resources, International Jobs is the essential comprehensive reference for students and established professionals alike who want a career in the global marketplace.

There is no other print source, online source, or Web search engine that provides the wide range and depth of insight found in Vital Statistics on American Politics. This new edition is updated with the most recent information available. The editors consult hundreds of sources to calculate and locate the data, facts, and figures that offer a vivid and multifaceted portrait of the broad spectrum of United States politics and policies. In over more than tables and figures, students, professional researchers, and interested citizens will find chapters devoted to key subject areas such as elections and political parties, public opinion and voting, the media, the three branches of U.S. government, foreign, military, social and economic policy, and much more.