The recent surge in media mergers has set off a wave of stories that all hit very close to home. In some cases, the news organizations themselves become news. The formation of communication conglomerates raises profound questions for reporters' lives and work, such as: What is the best way to cover stories of high profile and complexity? Will the new giants broaden both the definition of journalism and the opportunities for journalists to practice their craft? What are the prospects for the new partnership of big news, new media, and big business? The consequences of consolidation vary by...

The media's treatment of and interaction with race, like race itself, is one of the most sensitive areas hi American society. Whether hi its coverage and treatment of racial matters or racial connections inside media organizations themselves, mass communication is deeply involved with race. The Media in Black and White brings together twenty journalists and scholars, of various racial backgrounds, to grapple with a controversial issue: the role that media industries, from advertising to newspapers to the information superhighway, play in helping Americans understand race.Contributors include...