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Censored 2009

Censored 2009 Review

            Censored 2009 is a collection of news stories from 2007- 2008 that range from domestic to international to political affairs that received little to no coverage from mainstream media outlets. The front cover of ‘Censored’ claims that the book is an example of “media democracy in action” and does not fail to deliver. Each story pulls no punches in their quest for truth and sense of duty to inform the public about what is going on in the world and how it affects everybody. The updates on past ‘Censored’ stories is proof of just how determined the authors are about their work. Although the viewpoints of the collective authors could be considered politically one-sided, ‘Censored’ holds a magnifying glass over the stories that could/ should have informed the public about what’s going on in the world when the stories first broke.    Despite the aggressive viewpoints and plethora of acronyms, 'Censored' is full of intriguing stories with both domestic as well as international topics that are political, economic, cultural, and most importantly, relevant.  

Book Review

“The Age of Missing Information”

by Bill McKibben

In The Age of Missing Information, an analytical compare and contrast format is provided to portray what consequences may occur as a direct result of television overload. The book surrounds two inverse experiences; sitting in front of the television, watching programs non-stop for 24 hours, and spending 24 hours immersed in the wilderness with only bare necessities, remote of ALL electronics. Whether immersed in nature or propped in front of his television, McKibben examines the effects television programs have on the average American’s psyche. Programming such as weather, sitcoms, and advertising are discussed as the author sets out to prove that television does not make us smarter, but in fact causes us to be dumber, and less informed about our natural surroundings. The experience forces McKibben to conclude that a happy medium is necessary; between surplus technology and no technology at all.

Written in first-person narrative, the book is not based completely on opinion, as undeniable facts about perception and its relation to media are presented. McKibben encourages readers and fellow television viewers to take a step back as he did, and realize the subconscious effects occurring as a result of constant media intake and technology advancement. And with me as a conscious reader, he succeeded in his goals.

Is TV getting smarter?

Have you ever wished that you could grow smarter simply by watching TV, playing a game or browsing the Web? This enticing possibility is the premise of Steven Johnson’s Sleeper Curve theory as discussed in his book Everything Bad is Good for You. Central to this book’s analysis is the concept that today’s media, including but not limited to ‘Junk’ programs, games and Web content, are significantly more complex than the media and ‘Junk’ consumers were viewing even a few short years ago. This book examines how the human mind is evolving to accommodate the ever increasing complexity found in modern media and technology.

Steven Johnson presents a well thought out argument in favor of technology and human mental evolution. The discussion is well suited to daily media consumption, and also briefly examines why once taboo topics are now everyday fare. If you’ve a mind for a light(er), mind challenging conversation this book is a great read. May your media consumption ever expand your horizons - Game on!

Beyond Hypocrisy: Decoding the News in an Age of Propaganda By Edward S. Herman

Beyond Hypocrisy is about how language is used by people in power- primarily the US government- to expand their domain, promote their interests and gradually widen the gap between the haves and the have nots. The book focuses on the use of language to do this as it has applied to freedom of speech, the military industrial complex, imperialism, politics and class struggle.

The first half of the Beyond Hypocrisy (227 pages total) is made up of six chapters. The second half is split between a “Doublespeak Dictionary” and a bibliographic/notes section. The latter is necessary because the book uses ample historical detail from the last half of the 20th century to illustrate its points. As far as media is concerned, Beyond Hypocrisy describes how the media filtered and shaped news in each historical situation according to elite/government interests.

If you are looking for a light read or a book that specializes in media issues, Beyond Hypocrisy is not for you. If you have the historical curiosity and patience to absorb this dense book, or are ok with reading it faster for the main points, it does offer an interesting perspective.

Everything Bad is Good For You, by Steven Johnson

Everything Bad is Good For You, by Steven Johnson


This book is an interesting new take on how media is perceived in society today; as most media critics reference the media as harmful influences, Johnson portrays the media in a new and intellectual light.

Johnson begins his take on how such “bad” media is actually “good” for us by introducing video games, and how such intense engagement gamers face is actually giving them a cognitive workout. As gamers interact with the complex environments in video games, “they are learning the basic procedure of the scientific method,” (45). Such mental involvement in solving problems and mentally “filling in” gaps is then compared to contemporary television dramas. Shows such as The Sopranos and Law and Order demonstrate this emerging sense of plot multiplicity: “following multiple threads, keeping often densely interwoven plotlines distinct in your head as you watch,” (Johnson, 63). Part of the cognitive process that the viewer must endure to make sense of these shows is the “filling in,” or making sense of information that has been either deliberately withheld or deliberately left obscure. Johnson concludes by stating the rise in the 13.8 IQ levels of Americans within the past 46 years, (140).

Is such in intellectual increase reflecting on the increasingly complexity of video games and television shows? I believe Johnson is accurate in his theory; shows that incorporate a multi-plot storyline such as Law and Order and The Sopranos are among the highest rated in television, (65). As our society progresses, the level of intellect follows the complexities that arise, rendering us more efficient problem solvers. After reading Johnson’s novel, such an increase in potential brainpower gave me hope to thrive in a brilliantly complex future.

Book Review 2

Media Ethics with PowerWeb

Media Ethics is a very useful introductory book for communication students who have the desire to work in the industry of mass media. The book is easy to follow, and it quickly draws the reader into its fast moving foundation of ethics. The book provides the reader a well-rounded grasp of the history and theory of ethics, it also makes them be able to think critically and have a better understanding of self.

Although the book is primarily for the ethical education of journalists and public relations students, it touches upon the very foundation of human thought and behavior. Therefore it is applicable to all. Real-life and hypothetical case studies follow each chapter, which are highly pertinent, thought-provoking, and up-to-date; issues each individual will no doubt face at one point or another.