The Monkey King's Used Primate Emporium and Book Reviews

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Freedom Forum Media Studies, �Media Studies Journal, spring 1994: The Presidency in the New Media Age�

Started November 9 � Finished November 10, 2003; 221 pages. Posted 17 November 2003

The Freedom Forum is a watchdog organization run out of Columbia University, and apparently they put out a ton of these studies, though I can�t see who wants to read them. Is there really a market of people that want to see 30 different authors use the same examples over and over?

That�s what happened here, with six scribblers all using the same example of Clinton blowing up during a Rolling Stone interview about how he was put on the defensive right at the beginning.

The second problem is that these books are really only useful if you read them as soon as they come out, as the information becomes dated very quickly. Focusing on Clinton�s first year in office, many of the questions poised here have since been answered, and � big surprise here � most of the pundits were wrong on what was to come.

I should note that though dated, these pieces are very well written and low on the yawn factor, despite covering topics that would put most people instantly to sleep. But I still can�t see the general masses picking this up for any reason, and so it�s probably only purchased by liberal college professors who, to quote Grand Theft Auto: Vice City wear fuzzy sweaters and find everything terribly interesting.

And at eight bucks a pop, they�re probably the only ones who can afford to pick these up with any regularity. So I have two suggestions.

One, put these essays on a website so people that are interested can read them for free. Two, put an editor on the task of watching for repeated examples. The authors are either journalism professors, or working journalists, so they should now the importance of turning in copy early, ensuring they get the scoop.

Holy cow, I�m drunk.


Rating: Worth library prices.

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