Media : Media Analysis

The first-ever in-depth look at one of the greatest business stories of our time A true heavyweight in the star-studded world of media entertainment, Robert Johnson, the creator of Black Entertainment Television (BET), turned a revolutionary idea and a $15,000 personal loan into a multibillion-dollar empire. As one of the richest black men in America as well as its first black billionaire, Johnson’s success with BET has been a social examination into both race and capitalism with his many detractors holding him to a higher standard of cultural responsibility from which his competitors are exempt. Engaging and informative, The Billion Dollar BET skillfully examines Johnson’s humble origins, his dogged and inspired climb to the top, and his often controversial tenure at the helm of one of the most influential media outlets in the country. This book takes readers on a fascinating journey, beginning with Johnson’s days in rural Illinois, his graduate life at Princeton University, and his role as a cable industry lobbyist on Capitol Hill. TheBillion Dollar BET also details how Johnson courted media titans such as John Malone and Sumner Redstone and convinced them to play vital roles in BET’s success. Readers will also learn how BET quickly spread across the country and took on far greater social significance than even Johnson ever imagined. Filled with revealing anecdotes and never-reported details of Johnson’s life, his business philosophy, and the world inside BET, this story will teach readers even more about business, race, and themselves. Brett Pulley (New York, NY) is a Senior Editor at Forbes magazine, where he writes primarily about the media and entertainment industries. He has authored several cover stories including the 2001 Forbes 400 on Robert Johnson. Prior to joining Forbes, he covered economic development, politics, and was a national correspondent for nearly five years at the NewYork Times . He also spent five years as a correspondent at The WallStreet Journa l, where he wrote extensively on business and race. more...

Price: $24.95

The New York Times calls him “the funniest man in America,” and his legions of fans agree, laughing and snorting as they put his books on bestseller lists nationwide. In Boogers Are My Beat , Dave gives us the real scoop on: • The scientific search for the world’s funniest joke (you can bet it includes the word “weasel”) • RV camping in the Wal-Mart parking lot • Outwitting “smart” kitchen appliances and service contracts • Elections in Florida (“You can’t spell Florida without ‘duh’”) • The Olympics, where people from all over the world come together to accuse each other of cheating • The truth about the Dakotas, the Lone Ranger, and feng shui • The choice between death and taxes And much, much more—including some truths about journalism and serious thoughts about 9/11. more...

Price: $13.95

Broadcasting is arguably the most influential and powerful industry operating today. The media impose an inescapable presence in contemporary life and infuse all areas of public communication. But what is the quality of the relationship between ‘broadcaster’ and ‘citizen’? Do the media and media authorities take the audience's interests seriously into account? Do audiences have real opportunities to express themselves? Are citizens well informed and educated about the social, the cultural and the civic role that media can play? In this book, five authors present the main results of an extensive programme of research that was financed by the European Commission. The study was conducted in 29 European countries and each author analyses European trends from different but complementary perspectives. more...

Price: $10.00

In this second edition essential guide some 150 key genres, movements, theories and production terms are explained and analysed with depth and clarity. more...

Price: $24.95

Network news has come to dominate every stage of presidential selection, from the earliest announcements to the final swearing in. Plissner shows how the contest for national power in America - the primaries, the conventions, and the final counting of the ballots - is shaped by the major television networks. more...

Price: $17.95