4 stars for the content; 2 stars for the writingBrian Lamb is one of my heroes. He revolutionized the way we see the media, and he was one of the first to actually trust the viewership. While this book is often hagiographic and perhaps a bit pedestrian, it nevertheless it brings Lamb's background into focus and it reinforced, for me anyway, his iconic status. I can never thank him enough for the creation of Booknotes, if nothing else, a book review show that let the authors speak rather than to highlight the interviewer. I religiously audiotaped all of them. They make fascinating listening.
Lamb's lessons learned while working for Washington insiders and as a PR specialist for the Navy left an indelible impression on him and he resolved to do seomthing about it. C-Span was the direct result. They are:
1. The criteria for defining newsworthiness panders to the audiences with sound bites, celebrity, and irrelevant controversies.
2.Societal policy is dominated by too few and too homogeneous voices.
3.Follow the money: the media is driven by a financial bottom line not one based on professional ethics or what is good for society.
4. The "flyover" states in the Midwest are shortchanged in the policy dialogue.
5. A strong feeling that government control limits the quality and range of news.
6. Public officials have tremendous advantages in manipulating the news.
7. News persons and politicians the knowledge and interest of the public.
Ironically, he is a personal friend of Justice Scalia and they debate the value of having cameras in the Supreme Court; Lamb for, Scalia adamantly against.
BTW, if you are as interested as I in the Supreme Court arguments Oyez.org is making tapes of all the arguments avaiable on the web as mp3 downloads or streaming audio with simultaneous transcription. Great stuff.
