Overview
In 1962, an innovative documentary on a Berlin Wall tunnel escape brought condemnation from both sides of the Iron Curtain during one of the most volatile periods of the Cold War. The Tunnel, produced by NBC's Reuven Frank, clocked in at ninety minutes and prompted a range of strong reactions. While the television industry ultimately awarded the program three Emmys, the U.S. Department of State pressured NBC to cancel the program, and print journalists criticized the network for what they considered to be a blatant disregard of journalistic ethics.It was not just The Tunnel's Subject matter that sparked controversy, but the medium itself. The surprisingly fast ascendance of television news as the country's top choice for information threatened the self-defined supremacy of print journalism and the de facto cooperation of government officials and reporters on Cold War issues. In Contested Ground, Mike Conway argues that the Production and reception of television news and documentaries during this period reveals a major upheaval in American news communications.
Full Product Details
Author: Mike Conway
Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press
Imprint: University of Massachusetts Press
Weight: 0.463kg
ISBN: 9781625344519
ISBN 10: 1625344511
Pages: 280
Publication Date: 30 September 2019
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Professional & Vocational
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
In Contested Ground, Mike Conway's analysis of a controversial Cold War-era television program adds significantly to our understanding of TV news history while illuminating long-standing debates about the proper roles of journalism, broadcasting, and documentary. --Matthew C. Ehrlich, author of Radio Utopia: Postwar Audio Documentary in the Public Interest Contested Ground shows the choices earlier newspeople made when faced with difficulties like those we confront today. This must-read book helps us plot a more informed path into the future. --Bob Dotson, New York Times best-selling author and former American Story correspondent on NBC's Today [T]his well-written book is a valuable addition to the literature on journalism and broadcasting history. --CHOICE
[T]his well-written book is a valuable addition to the literature on journalism and broadcasting history. --Choice
In Contested Ground, Mike Conway's analysis of a controversial Cold War-era television program adds significantly to our understanding of TV news history while illuminating long-standing debates about the proper roles of journalism, broadcasting, and documentary.--Matthew C. Ehrlich, author of Radio Utopia: Postwar Audio Documentary in the Public Interest Contested Ground shows the choices earlier newspeople made when faced with difficulties like those we confront today. This must-read book helps us plot a more informed path into the future.--Bob Dotson, New York Times best-selling author and former American Story correspondent on NBC's Today . . . this well-written book is a valuable addition to the literature on journalism and broadcasting history.--Choice
Author Information
Mike Conway is associate professor of journalism at Indiana University Bloomington.
